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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, home fans were concerned about a difficult game. However those fears vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Early Action

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their similar combative approach. Benfica clearly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's initial attempts to build a smooth passing tempo.

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

Prior to kick-off, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his side to subdue the home fans by slowing Newcastle and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through the backline, they at first struggled to generate good opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after beating the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that required an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

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

The England winger's blazing speed had caused consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's early ball into the box paid off.

When Newcastle's intense, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground ball across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players pushed forward with total freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper once more rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the second half, everything seemed evenly poised.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had different ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner over the crossbar from a well-placed position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from end to end, persuading the coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward deep. However, with defender Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a superb long throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, the winger was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to lash a superb strike past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four very fast wingers, and three goals from two wide men had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first Champions League result of the campaign.