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When Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, home supporters were concerned about a tough match. However such fears vanished due to a strike from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Initial Action

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' early attempts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

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

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his side to quiet the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Events and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic yielded varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to create good opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium attacker Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful shot that required an excellent single-hand save. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger directed a further attempt off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing pace had created consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's early ball into the box proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low ball across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with real abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were probably grateful to regroup at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope again saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the second half, the match seemed finely balanced.

While Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the power balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

The manager's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time he advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an additional forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese defender Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's German striker back. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, sprinting into the area before keeping impressive poise to lash a superb shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first European result of the season.