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When the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local fans feared a tough game. But such worries disappeared due to a goal from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, making sure the visitors' coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Initial Action

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their own combative style. Benfica certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to build a smooth attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's issues, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they continued convalescing from illness and injury each.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle the backline, they at first found it hard to generate good opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost showed how to finish 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.

But when Lukebakio directed a further attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching pace had created consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the area proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, high press was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a ground cross across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players attacked with real abandon. The winger repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the Magpies were likely relieved to regroup at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the post, and as the teams came out for the next period, everything seemed finely balanced.

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

The manager's winger had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born left-back, and home hearts were nervous every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the bar from a good position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from end to end, persuading the coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an additional forward in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany striker deep. However, with defender Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, Barnes was away, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining commendable composure to fire a superb shot past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had destroyed his chances of securing Benfica's first European result of the season.