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When Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters were concerned about a difficult match. But such fears vanished due to a strike from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Early Action

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to build a fluent attacking rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they were convalescing from illness and a knock each.

Before the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the home fans by delaying the game and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Key Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy yielded mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to generate clear opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that required an terrific one-handed stop. No wonder Pope retains hope for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit another shot off the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing speed had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's quick cross into the area proved effective.

When the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a low cross across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their players attacked with real abandon. The winger consistently showed an skill to destabilize Howe's back four, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the power balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the bar from a good position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from end to end, persuading the manager to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's Germany striker deep. However, with defender Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive poise to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of earning the team's first European result of the campaign.