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As the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, home fans were concerned about a difficult game. But those fears disappeared due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, making sure the visitors' coach did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their own aggressive approach. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a fluent passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's challenges, key players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they continued convalescing from sickness and injury each.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Key Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through Benfica's backline, they initially found it hard to create good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium attacker Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that required an terrific single-hand stop. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger directed another shot against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching pace had created problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's quick cross into the box paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their side attacked with real freedom. The winger consistently showed an ability to destabilize Howe's back four, and the home team were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half concluded with Pope once more saving his team by tipping the attacker's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had different plans.

The manager's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the crossbar from a good position. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to swing from end to end, persuading the manager to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. But now, with right-back Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to lash a superb shot past the keeper.

After Barnes rolled a low effort through poor Trubin's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have four very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first Champions League result of the season.