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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, home fans feared a difficult match. But those worries disappeared thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' coach did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their own combative style. Benfica clearly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' early attempts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding the home team's challenges, key players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Prior to the start, the coaches shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to generate good opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he forced Nick Pope with a powerful strike that got an terrific single-hand save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger directed another shot off the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

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

When the Magpies' hard, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to deliver a ground ball across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side attacked with total abandon. The winger consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with Pope again rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the second half, everything seemed evenly poised.

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

Mourinho's winger had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner over the crossbar from a well-placed position. Rather, this absorbing game continued to move from end to end, prompting the coach to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese defender Silva, had done a good job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany striker deep. However, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining commendable poise to lash a sublime shot past Trubin.

After Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first European points of the season.