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When Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his players, local fans feared a tough match. But such worries disappeared due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their similar combative style. The visitors clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

Adding to the home team's issues, key players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they were convalescing from illness and a knock each.

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

Key Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to generate good opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium attacker Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit a further attempt against the post, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's blazing pace had created problems for Mourinho all night, and he neatly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's early ball into the area paid off.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a low cross across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side attacked with total freedom. Lukebakio consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were probably relieved to regroup at half-time.

The opening period concluded with the keeper again saving his side by tipping the attacker's left-foot around the post, and as the sides emerged for the second half, the match seemed evenly poised.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the determination of a winger set to shift the balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

The manager's No 11 had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the crossbar from a well-placed position. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's coach to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an additional forward in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the way was clear for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable composure to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through poor Trubin's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League result of the season.