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As the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, home supporters were concerned about a tough match. But those worries disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' new manager would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their own aggressive approach. Benfica clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

Adding to the home team's issues, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they were recovering from sickness and a knock each.

Before the start, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the home fans by slowing Newcastle and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic yielded mixed results, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through the backline, they initially struggled to generate good opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgian winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated 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 the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger directed a further attempt off the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching speed had created problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick cross into the box paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a low ball across the goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their players attacked with real freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period concluded with Pope again saving his team by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot wide of the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed finely balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three European games this campaign, played with the determination of a winger set to shift the power balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home fans were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the bar from a good spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, persuading the manager to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an additional striker in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's Germany striker back. However, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to fire a superb strike past the keeper.

After Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have four very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first European points of the campaign.