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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, home supporters were concerned about a tough game. But those fears vanished thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' coach did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their own combative approach. The visitors clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' early efforts to establish a fluent passing tempo.

Compounding the home team's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to subdue the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first struggled to create clear chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that required an terrific single-hand save. No wonder Pope retains hope for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger hit a further attempt against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing pace had created consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick ball into the area paid off.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a ground ball across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with total freedom. The winger repeatedly showed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more saving his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot wide of the post, and as the sides came out for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European games this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player aiming to shift the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had different plans.

The manager's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the bar from a good spot. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to move from end to end, prompting Newcastle's coach to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an extra forward in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal defender Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the Germany centre-forward back. However, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before keeping impressive composure to lash a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League result of the campaign.