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When the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans were concerned about a difficult match. However those worries disappeared thanks to a goal from the winger and two more from substitute the forward, ensuring the visitors' coach would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar combative style. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial attempts to establish a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they were recovering from illness and injury each.

Before kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to create clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful strike that got an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England return in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger hit a further shot off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching pace had caused problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick cross into the area paid off.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total freedom. The winger repeatedly showed an skill to destabilize Howe's back four, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The first half ended with Pope again rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly balanced.

While Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had already shown that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, filling in 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 manager to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker back. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive composure to fire a superb shot past Trubin.

After Barnes slid a low effort through poor Trubin's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had shattered his hopes of securing Benfica's first European result of the campaign.