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When Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, local fans were concerned about a tough match. However such worries disappeared thanks to a strike from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring the visitors' coach did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their own combative approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's early efforts to establish a smooth attacking tempo.

Compounding the home team's issues, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they continued convalescing from sickness and injury each.

Before the start, the two managers shared a brief, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy produced mixed results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they initially found it hard to generate clear chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that got an excellent single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit another shot against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick ball into the box proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a ground ball across the goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with total freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at the break.

The opening period ended with Pope again saving his team by tipping the attacker's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the next period, everything seemed finely balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three European games this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to alter the balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

The manager's winger had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner over the crossbar from a well-placed position. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to swing from end to end, persuading the manager to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing the German striker back. However, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining commendable composure to lash a superb shot past Trubin.

After Harvey Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wide men had destroyed his chances of earning Benfica's first Champions League result of the season.