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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, local fans feared a tough game. However such fears disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's new manager would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar aggressive approach. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Adding to the home team's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they were recovering from sickness and a knock respectively.

Before kick-off, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to break through Benfica's backline, they at first struggled to generate good chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that got an excellent single-hand save. No wonder Pope still hopes for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio hit another attempt off the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing pace had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick ball into the area proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a low ball across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their players pushed forward with total freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half concluded with Pope again rescuing his side by diverting the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly poised.

If Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to alter the balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had different ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner over the bar from a well-placed position. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's coach to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. However, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was clear for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to fire a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first European result of the season.