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As the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters were concerned about a difficult game. But such fears vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their own aggressive style. Benfica clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to build a smooth passing rhythm.

Compounding the home team's issues, two midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were convalescing from sickness and injury respectively.

Before the start, the coaches shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his side to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

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

Additionally, Benfica's Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that got an terrific one-handed save. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio hit a further attempt against the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing pace had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick ball into the area paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low cross across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their side attacked with real abandon. The winger consistently showed an skill to unsettle Howe's back four, and the home team were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper again saving his team by tipping the attacker's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly poised.

While Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to alter the balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

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

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a good position. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to move from end to end, persuading the coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese defender Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's German striker back. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the area before maintaining commendable composure to fire a superb strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing the team's first European result of the campaign.