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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his players, local supporters feared a tough game. But those fears disappeared thanks to a goal from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their own aggressive approach. The visitors clearly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to build a fluent passing tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, two players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they continued recovering from sickness and a knock respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the home fans by slowing the game and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic produced varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through the defensive barricades, they initially struggled to create good chances.

Moreover, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an terrific one-handed save. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger directed another attempt off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching pace had created problems for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick ball into the area proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side attacked with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the Magpies were probably relieved to regroup at half-time.

The first half concluded with Pope once more saving his side by tipping the attacker's left-foot wide of the post, and as the sides emerged for the second half, the match seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League games this season, played with the determination of a winger aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

Mourinho's winger had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and home hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner above the bar from a good spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, persuading Newcastle's manager to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing the German centre-forward back. But now, with defender Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful long throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, sprinting into the area before maintaining commendable composure to fire a superb shot past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had destroyed his chances of earning Benfica's first European result of the campaign.