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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, home supporters feared a tough game. However those fears vanished thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their similar aggressive style. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's initial efforts to build a fluent attacking rhythm.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were convalescing from sickness and injury respectively.

Before the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to quiet the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle the backline, they initially struggled to create clear opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that got an terrific single-hand save. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed another shot off the post, the home side woke up. Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing speed had created consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past Trubin after his teammate's early cross into the box proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a ground ball across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

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

The opening period concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's shot around the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the next period, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

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

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the crossbar from a well-placed position. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to move from end to end, persuading Newcastle's manager to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an extra striker in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese defender Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany striker back. But now, with right-back Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful long throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was away, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining commendable composure to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have several quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first European result of the season.