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When Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his players, local fans were concerned about a difficult match. However those worries disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute the forward, ensuring the visitors' new manager would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar combative style. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's early attempts to build a smooth passing rhythm.

Compounding the home team's challenges, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they were recovering from sickness and a knock each.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers shared a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his side to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Key Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic yielded mixed results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to create good opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgium winger Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that got an terrific one-handed stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio hit another attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing speed had created consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early ball into the area paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a low cross across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with total freedom. The winger consistently showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were likely grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period ended with Pope once more saving his team by diverting the attacker's shot around the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed finely poised.

If Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to alter the power balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

The manager's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the crossbar from a good spot. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from end to end, persuading Newcastle's manager to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing the German striker back. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a superb long throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive composure to fire a superb shot past the keeper.

After Barnes slid a shot through poor Trubin's legs after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had destroyed his chances of securing Benfica's first Champions League result of the season.