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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, home fans were concerned about a difficult game. But such fears vanished thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their similar aggressive style. The visitors clearly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' early attempts to establish a fluent passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's challenges, two midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they continued recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches shared a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy produced varied results, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to generate clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that got an terrific one-handed stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio hit another shot against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching speed had caused consternation for Mourinho all night, and he neatly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick cross into the area paid off.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a low cross across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning 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 real freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to unsettle Howe's defense, and the home team were probably relieved to reset at the break.

The opening period ended with Pope once more saving his team by diverting the attacker's shot wide of the post, and as the teams came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

If Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

The manager's No 11 had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and home fans were nervous every time he moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the bar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this thrilling game continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's manager to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing the Germany centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to lash a superb shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have several very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first European result of the season.