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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, home fans were concerned about a difficult match. However such fears disappeared thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute the forward, ensuring the visitors' new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar combative style. Benfica clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's early efforts to establish a smooth attacking tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and a knock respectively.

Before the start, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to subdue the home fans by delaying the game and reducing the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to break through the backline, they at first found it hard to create good opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgian winger Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an excellent single-hand stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit a further shot against the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the deadlock.

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

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to pass a ground ball across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players pushed forward with real abandon. The winger consistently showed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper again saving his team by tipping Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed evenly poised.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

The manager's winger had already shown that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker back. However, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the area before maintaining commendable composure to lash a sublime shot past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first Champions League points of the season.