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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, home supporters feared a difficult game. But such worries disappeared due to a goal from the winger and two more from substitute the forward, making sure the visitors' coach would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team showed their similar combative style. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's early efforts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they were recovering from sickness and a knock respectively.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to break through the backline, they at first struggled to create good chances.

Moreover, the Belgian attacker Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after leaving the defender behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that got an terrific single-hand save. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed another attempt off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the area paid off.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a ground cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with real freedom. The winger consistently showed an ability to destabilize Howe's back four, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at the break.

The first half ended with Pope once more rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot wide of the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, the match seemed evenly balanced.

While Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and home fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a good position. Rather, this absorbing game continued to move from end to end, prompting the manager to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese back Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's Germany striker deep. However, with defender Dedic substituted, the defense 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 double substitution was already paying off 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 penalty box before maintaining commendable composure to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have four very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first European result of the season.