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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters feared a tough match. But those fears disappeared due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's coach did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their own combative style. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a fluent attacking rhythm.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, two players, Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued recovering from illness and a knock each.

Before kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by delaying Newcastle and reducing the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle the defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to generate clear chances.

Additionally, the Belgian attacker Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an terrific one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio directed a further attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

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

When Newcastle's hard, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a low ball across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were probably relieved to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his side by diverting the attacker's shot around the post, and as the sides emerged for the second half, everything seemed finely poised.

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

Mourinho's No 11 had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner over the bar from a well-placed position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from end to end, prompting Newcastle's coach to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive poise to fire a superb shot past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes slid a shot through poor Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his chances of securing Benfica's first European points of the campaign.