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When Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters were concerned about a tough game. However such worries vanished due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive style. Benfica certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to establish a smooth attacking tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they were convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Before the start, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Events and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic yielded varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to create good opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that required an terrific single-hand save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger directed a further shot off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing pace had caused problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's early ball into the area proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to pass a low cross across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with total abandon. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were probably relieved to reset at the break.

The first half concluded with the keeper again saving his team by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the next period, everything seemed finely balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the determination of a winger aiming to alter the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a well-placed position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from end to end, persuading Newcastle's manager to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany centre-forward deep. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, the winger was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining commendable composure to lash a superb shot past the keeper.

After Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had shattered his hopes of securing Benfica's first European points of the season.