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When the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans were concerned about a difficult game. However those worries vanished thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their similar aggressive approach. Benfica clearly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's initial efforts to build a smooth passing rhythm.

Compounding the home team's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they were recovering from sickness and injury respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic produced varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the backline, they initially found it hard to create clear chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that required an excellent one-handed save. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio hit a further shot off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing pace had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's quick ball into the box paid off.

When Newcastle's hard, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a low ball across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total freedom. The winger repeatedly showed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to regroup at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper again rescuing his side by tipping the attacker's shot around the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, the match seemed finely poised.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European appearances this season, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the power balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and home fans 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 good position. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to swing from end to end, prompting Newcastle's coach to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese defender Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German striker deep. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the way was clear for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to lash a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League points of the season.