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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, home supporters were concerned about a difficult game. But such fears vanished due to a goal from the winger and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' coach did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Early Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar combative approach. The visitors clearly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' early efforts to build a smooth attacking rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they continued recovering from sickness and a knock each.

Before kick-off, the coaches shared a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had told his side to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy produced varied outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially struggled to create clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that got an terrific single-hand stop. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio hit another shot off the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick ball into the area paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a low cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with total freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at half-time.

The first half concluded with Pope once more saving his side by diverting the attacker's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the power balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

The manager's No 11 had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from end to end, persuading the manager to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's German striker back. But now, with defender Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was clear for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining impressive composure to fire a superb shot past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have four very fast wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had shattered his chances of securing Benfica's first European points of the season.