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As Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his players, local supporters feared a tough match. However such worries disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar combative style. The visitors clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to establish a fluent attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's issues, two players, Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they were recovering from illness and a knock each.

Prior to the start, the coaches shared a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the home fans by delaying Newcastle and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic produced mixed results, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to break through Benfica's backline, they at first found it hard to generate clear opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful shot that required an excellent single-hand save. No wonder Pope retains hope for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger hit a further attempt against the post, Newcastle woke up. Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing pace had created consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's quick ball into the box paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with real abandon. The winger repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's defense, and the Magpies were probably relieved to reset at half-time.

The first half ended with the keeper again saving his team by diverting the attacker's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, the match seemed finely poised.

If Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home hearts were nervous every time he advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a corner over the bar from a well-placed position. Rather, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, prompting the coach to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese defender Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing the German striker deep. However, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, sprinting into the area before keeping commendable composure to lash a sublime shot past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had destroyed his chances of earning the team's first Champions League result of the campaign.