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When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters feared a tough game. However those fears vanished due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' coach did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Early Action

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their own combative approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's initial attempts to build a smooth passing tempo.

Compounding the home team's challenges, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they continued recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Prior to the start, the coaches shared a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to create clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that required an terrific single-hand stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger directed a further shot off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing pace had created consternation for Mourinho all night, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick ball into the box proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a ground cross across the goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total abandon. The winger repeatedly showed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to regroup at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope again saving his team by diverting the attacker's shot around the post, and as the sides came out for the second half, everything seemed evenly balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, persuading Newcastle's coach to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing the German striker back. But now, with defender Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful long throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the area before keeping commendable composure to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first European points of the campaign.