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When the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, home supporters were concerned about a difficult game. But those fears disappeared thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute the forward, ensuring the visitors' coach did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their own combative style. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's early attempts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from illness and a knock respectively.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy produced mixed results, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to generate clear chances.

Additionally, the Belgium attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender behind, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful shot that required an terrific one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed another attempt off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he neatly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick cross into the area proved effective.

When the Magpies' intense, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a low ball across the goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side attacked with real abandon. The winger consistently showed an skill to unsettle Howe's defense, and the Magpies were probably relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half concluded with the keeper again saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the teams came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly balanced.

If Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three European games this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

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

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner over the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this absorbing contest continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's manager to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an extra forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal defender Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's German striker back. However, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the path was open for Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, Barnes was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to lash a superb shot past the keeper.

After Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League points of the campaign.