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As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, home fans feared a difficult game. However such worries vanished thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's coach did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to build a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's challenges, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they continued convalescing from illness and a knock each.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to subdue the crowd by slowing the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to break through the backline, they at first struggled to create clear opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that got an excellent single-hand save. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

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

The England winger's scorching speed had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early ball into the area proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a ground ball across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the Magpies were likely relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the next period, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth strike in three European appearances this season, played with the determination of a winger aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and home fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a corner above the crossbar from a good spot. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to swing from end to end, persuading Newcastle's coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing the German centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path 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 proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was away, sprinting into the area before maintaining impressive poise to lash a sublime shot past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have four quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had destroyed his chances of earning Benfica's first Champions League result of the season.