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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans were concerned about a difficult game. But such fears vanished thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring the visitors' new manager would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Early Action

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their similar combative approach. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a fluent passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's issues, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they were recovering from sickness and a knock each.

Before kick-off, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had told his side to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic yielded varied results, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to break through the backline, they initially struggled to generate clear opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an terrific one-handed save. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger directed another attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching speed had caused consternation for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's quick ball into the area paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to pass a ground cross across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at the break.

The first half ended with Pope once more rescuing his side by tipping the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to alter the power balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's winger had already shown that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed position. Instead, this absorbing game continued to move from end to end, persuading Newcastle's manager to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an additional striker in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany centre-forward deep. However, with defender Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, the winger was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining commendable poise to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have several very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had destroyed his chances of securing Benfica's first European result of the season.