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When the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local supporters were concerned about a difficult game. But those worries vanished due to a strike from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar combative style. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' initial efforts to build a fluent attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's issues, two midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they were recovering from illness and injury each.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the home fans by delaying the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Key Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy yielded mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle the defensive barricades, they initially struggled to generate good opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that got an terrific single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit a further attempt off the post, the home side roused themselves. Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching pace had created consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick ball into the area paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an skill to destabilize Howe's back four, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more saving his side by tipping Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

If Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to alter the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

The manager's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner over the bar from a well-placed position. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to move from end to end, prompting the manager to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese back Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, accelerating into the area before maintaining impressive composure to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have four very fast wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League points of the campaign.