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As the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, home fans were concerned about a difficult match. But those worries vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their similar combative approach. The visitors clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' early attempts to build a smooth passing tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they were recovering from sickness and a knock respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the home fans by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic yielded varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to generate clear chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that got an excellent one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England return in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger directed a further shot off the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range save from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

Gordon's scorching speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early ball into the area paid off.

When Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a low cross across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half ended with Pope once more saving his team by tipping Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, the match seemed evenly balanced.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner over the crossbar from a good position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's coach to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an extra forward in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany striker deep. However, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive composure to lash a superb strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor Trubin's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League result of the campaign.