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When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his players, local supporters feared a difficult game. But those worries disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their own aggressive style. The visitors clearly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's early efforts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they were recovering from illness and a knock respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through the backline, they initially found it hard to generate clear opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that required an terrific one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger hit another shot against the post, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

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

When the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a low ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with real abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were probably relieved 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 next period, the match seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth strike in three European appearances this season, played with the determination of a wide player set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

The manager's No 11 had already shown that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to swing from end to end, persuading the manager to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an additional striker in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's space and forcing the German centre-forward back. However, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the way was open for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining commendable poise to fire a sublime strike past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes slid a shot through poor Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.