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When Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans were concerned about a tough match. But such fears disappeared thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their own aggressive style. Benfica certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' early attempts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's issues, two players, Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued recovering from sickness and injury each.

Prior to the start, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the home fans by delaying Newcastle and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first struggled to create good opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that got an terrific one-handed save. No wonder Pope still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio directed a further shot off the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused consternation for Mourinho all night, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick ball into the area paid off.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a low ball across the goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with total freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were probably grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the second half, the match seemed finely poised.

If Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had different ideas.

The manager's No 11 had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed position. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to swing from end to end, persuading the manager to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's German centre-forward back. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining commendable poise to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Barnes slid a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have four quick wide attackers, and three goals from two wide men had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first European result of the season.