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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters feared a tough match. However those worries disappeared due to a goal from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's coach would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Action

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar combative approach. The visitors clearly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' early efforts to build a smooth passing tempo.

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

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had told his side to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic produced mixed results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle the backline, they at first struggled to create good chances.

Moreover, the Belgium winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after beating the defender behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an terrific single-hand save. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed another attempt against the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing speed had created problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's early cross into the box paid off.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a ground cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with real abandon. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with the keeper once more saving his team by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot around the post, and as the sides emerged for the next period, everything seemed evenly balanced.

While Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this season, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

The manager's winger had previously shown that, while Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good position. Instead, this absorbing game continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker back. However, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.