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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, home supporters feared a tough game. But those fears vanished due to a strike from the winger and a brace from substitute the forward, ensuring the visitors' coach would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their own aggressive style. The visitors clearly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a smooth attacking rhythm.

Adding to the home team's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they were recovering from sickness and injury respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy yielded varied results, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first struggled to create clear chances.

Additionally, the Belgian attacker Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an terrific one-handed stop. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England return in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio hit a further shot off the post, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing speed had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he calmly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early cross into the box paid off.

When the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a low cross across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with real freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at the break.

The first half concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

If Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European appearances this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to alter the power balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had different plans.

The manager's winger had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the bar from a good spot. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from end to end, persuading Newcastle's manager to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an extra forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal defender Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive poise to fire a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four very fast wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League points of the campaign.