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When the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters were concerned about a difficult game. However such worries vanished thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement the forward, ensuring the visitors' new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their own aggressive style. Benfica clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' early attempts to build a smooth passing tempo.

Adding to the home team's issues, two midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they were convalescing from illness and a knock each.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had told his side to quiet the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to generate good chances.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that got an terrific single-hand stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger directed a further attempt against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing speed had created problems for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past Trubin after his teammate's early cross into the box paid off.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a low cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their side pushed forward with total freedom. The winger repeatedly showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper again rescuing his team by diverting the attacker's shot around the post, and as the sides came out for the second half, everything seemed evenly poised.

While Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a well-placed position. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to swing from end to end, persuading Newcastle's manager to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese back Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's German centre-forward back. But now, with defender Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the path was open for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, sprinting into the area before keeping impressive composure to lash a sublime shot past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have several very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first European points of the season.