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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, home supporters were concerned about a tough game. But those worries vanished due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Action

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar combative style. Benfica certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' early efforts to establish a smooth attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's challenges, key midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they were convalescing from illness and injury each.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers shared a brief, reserved embrace, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first struggled to create clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an terrific one-handed stop. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger hit another attempt off the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing speed had caused consternation for Mourinho all night, and he calmly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's quick ball into the area paid off.

When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a ground ball across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side attacked with real freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the Magpies were probably grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with the keeper once more saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the post, and as the sides emerged for the second half, everything seemed evenly balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger aiming to shift the power balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner over the bar from a good spot. Instead, this thrilling game continued to move from end to end, prompting the coach to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an additional striker in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker back. But now, with right-back Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful long throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the area before maintaining impressive poise to fire a superb strike past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have several very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had destroyed his hopes of earning Benfica's first European points of the season.