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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, home supporters were concerned about a difficult match. However those worries disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute the forward, making sure Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar combative approach. Benfica certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' early attempts to build a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they were recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Prior to the start, the coaches shared a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the crowd by delaying Newcastle and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Key Events and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic yielded varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle the backline, they initially found it hard to create good chances.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful strike that required an excellent single-hand stop. No wonder Pope retains hope for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed a further attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing pace had caused problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick ball into the box paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a low ball across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their players pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an skill to destabilize Howe's defense, and the home team were probably grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more saving his team by tipping Lukebakio's shot wide of the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, the match seemed finely poised.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to shift the power balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese defender Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing the German striker back. However, with right-back Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the area before maintaining impressive poise to lash a superb strike past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a shot through poor Trubin's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have four quick wingers, and three goals from two wingers had destroyed his chances of earning Benfica's first European result of the campaign.