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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, local supporters were concerned about a tough match. But those fears vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure the visitors' new manager did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Flow and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar combative approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' early attempts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, two players, Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they continued recovering from sickness and injury respectively.

Before the start, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to subdue the crowd by slowing the game and reducing the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy produced varied outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they initially found it hard to generate clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful strike that got an terrific one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an England return in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger hit another shot off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching pace had created consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early cross into the area paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to pass a low ball across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players attacked with total freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to regroup at the break.

The first half concluded with the keeper again rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's shot around the post, and as the sides emerged for the second half, everything seemed evenly balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had other ideas.

The manager's No 11 had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good position. Rather, this absorbing game continued to move from end to end, prompting the coach to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an extra striker in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese defender Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's space and forcing the German centre-forward deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before maintaining impressive composure to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have four quick wingers, and three goals from two wide men had destroyed his chances of earning the team's first European result of the campaign.