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As Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, home supporters feared a tough match. But those fears vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Initial Action

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their own combative style. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's early attempts to establish a fluent passing rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, key midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and a knock each.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the crowd 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 succeeded to dismantle the defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to generate clear chances.

Additionally, the Belgium winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger directed another attempt off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing pace had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early ball into the box proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low ball across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players attacked with real freedom. The winger consistently displayed an skill to destabilize Howe's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at half-time.

The first half ended with Pope once more saving his team by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the next period, the match seemed finely balanced.

While Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger set to alter the power balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

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

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the bar from a well-placed position. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing the Germany centre-forward back. However, with defender Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a superb long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining impressive composure to fire a superb shot past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had destroyed his chances of securing Benfica's first European result of the campaign.