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When the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans feared a tough game. However such worries vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' early efforts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Compounding the home team's challenges, two midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were recovering from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers shared a brief, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle the defensive barricades, they at first struggled to create good chances.

Moreover, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that required an excellent one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger directed a further attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick ball into the box proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to pass a ground ball across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their side attacked with total freedom. The winger consistently showed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his side by tipping the attacker's left-foot wide of the post, and as the teams emerged for the next period, everything seemed finely poised.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

The manager's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born full-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner over the crossbar from a good position. Rather, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, persuading Newcastle's coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's German striker back. But now, with defender Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping commendable composure to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

When Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate Trubin's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have several very fast wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had shattered his chances of earning the team's first European points of the campaign.