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As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, home fans were concerned about a tough game. However such fears disappeared due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their own combative style. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Compounding the home team's issues, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and a knock each.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had instructed his side to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy yielded varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle the defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to generate good opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an terrific one-handed stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed another shot against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing speed had created consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early cross into the area paid off.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a low cross across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their side attacked with total freedom. Lukebakio consistently displayed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably relieved to regroup at half-time.

The first half concluded with Pope once more saving his side by diverting the attacker's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had different plans.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born full-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the crossbar from a good spot. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's manager to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany centre-forward back. However, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful long throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the area before keeping commendable poise to fire a sublime strike past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his chances of earning the team's first European points of the campaign.