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As Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, home fans feared a difficult game. But such worries vanished due to a goal from the winger and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive style. Benfica certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' early efforts to establish a smooth passing tempo.

Compounding the home team's issues, two players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they were recovering from illness and injury each.

Prior to the start, the coaches shared a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle Benfica's backline, they at first struggled to create good opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that got an excellent single-hand stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit another shot against the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Murphy fired wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after Murphy's quick cross into the box proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a low ball across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with total abandon. The winger repeatedly displayed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with Pope again saving his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed evenly balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time he advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the crossbar from a well-placed position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, prompting the manager to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an extra forward in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German striker back. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the way was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, sprinting into the area before maintaining impressive poise to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that Newcastle have several very fast wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first European points of the campaign.