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When the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his players, local fans were concerned about a difficult match. But such fears vanished due to a strike from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive approach. Benfica clearly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a fluent attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's challenges, two players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were convalescing from illness and a knock each.

Prior to the start, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to subdue the home fans by delaying the game and reducing the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic produced varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to create good chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he forced Nick Pope with a powerful shot that got an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an England return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger hit a further shot against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing speed had caused consternation for Mourinho 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 second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a low cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their players pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio consistently displayed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the home team were probably relieved to reset at half-time.

The first half ended with Pope once more saving his side by tipping the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

If Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had different ideas.

The manager's winger had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

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

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the German centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive poise to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.

After Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four very fast wingers, and three goals from two wingers had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first European points of the campaign.