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When the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, home fans were concerned about a difficult match. But those worries disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their own aggressive style. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' early efforts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's issues, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued recovering from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to the start, the coaches shared a brief, cool embrace, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his team to subdue the home fans by delaying the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Key Events and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they at first struggled to create clear opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that required an terrific single-hand stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed another attempt off the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing pace had caused consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's quick ball into the box paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a low cross across the goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with total abandon. The winger repeatedly showed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the Magpies were likely grateful to regroup at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper again rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the second half, the match seemed evenly poised.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a corner over the crossbar from a well-placed position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an extra striker in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany centre-forward back. However, with defender Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a superb throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was away, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive poise to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had shattered his chances of securing the team's first Champions League points of the season.