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As the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local fans were concerned about a tough match. But such fears vanished thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their own combative approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' early efforts to build a fluent passing tempo.

Adding to the home team's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they continued recovering from sickness and injury respectively.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to subdue the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially struggled to create good opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an excellent one-handed save. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.

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

The England winger's scorching pace had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early cross into the box paid off.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players attacked with real freedom. The winger repeatedly showed an skill to destabilize Howe's defense, and the Magpies were likely relieved to reset at half-time.

The first half ended with Pope again rescuing his side by diverting the attacker's shot around the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly poised.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three European appearances this season, played with the determination of a winger aiming to alter the power balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and home hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a corner above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from end to end, persuading the manager to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an additional forward in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the German centre-forward back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first Champions League result of the campaign.