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When Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local fans were concerned about a difficult game. However such worries vanished thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Early Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they continued convalescing from illness and injury respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to quiet the crowd by slowing the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy yielded varied results, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to generate clear opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that got an excellent one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger hit another shot against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing speed had created problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick cross into the box paid off.

When Newcastle's hard, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with Pope again rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the second half, the match seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to shift the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's winger had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and home hearts were nervous every time he advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the bar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing the German striker back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive poise to fire a superb shot past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have several quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had destroyed his chances of securing Benfica's first European result of the campaign.