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As the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, home fans were concerned about a difficult game. However such fears disappeared thanks to a strike from the winger and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their own combative style. Benfica clearly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's early attempts to build a fluent passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued recovering from sickness and a knock each.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Key Events and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic produced varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through the backline, they initially struggled to create clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an excellent single-hand stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed another shot against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon finally 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 first goal past Trubin after Murphy's early cross into the box proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with real freedom. The winger consistently displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were probably grateful to regroup at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper once more rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

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

The manager's No 11 had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time he advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner above the crossbar from a good position. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portugal defender Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's room and pushing the German striker back. But now, with right-back Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive poise to fire a superb shot past the keeper.

After Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have four quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had shattered his chances of securing Benfica's first Champions League points of the campaign.