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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local fans were concerned about a difficult game. But such worries disappeared thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their similar combative approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's early attempts to establish a fluent passing tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, two players, Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they were recovering from sickness and a knock each.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by delaying Newcastle and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Key Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle the defensive barricades, they initially struggled to generate clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that got an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio hit a further shot against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing pace had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick cross into the area proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a ground ball across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused 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 Howe's back four, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more rescuing his team by diverting the attacker's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, everything seemed finely poised.

If Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a winger set to shift the power balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the bar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese defender Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing the German centre-forward back. However, with right-back Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb long throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, for once, misread the bounce, the winger was clear, sprinting into the area before keeping impressive poise to lash a sublime shot past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a low effort through poor Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four very fast wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first European points of the season.