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As Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local supporters feared a difficult game. But those fears disappeared due to a strike from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their own aggressive style. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a fluent passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's challenges, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they were convalescing from sickness and injury respectively.

Before the start, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced varied results, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially struggled to generate good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an excellent one-handed save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger directed a further shot off the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing pace had caused consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the box proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a ground cross across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an skill to unsettle Howe's defense, and the home team were probably relieved to regroup at half-time.

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

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time he advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the bar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to swing from end to end, persuading the coach to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an additional striker in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany centre-forward deep. But now, with defender Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misread the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the area before keeping commendable poise to fire a superb shot past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a shot through poor Trubin's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have several quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first European points of the campaign.