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When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, local supporters feared a difficult game. But those worries vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and two more from substitute the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial efforts to establish a smooth attacking rhythm.

Adding to the home team's issues, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they continued convalescing from sickness and injury each.

Before kick-off, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to quiet the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle the defensive barricades, they initially struggled to create clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful shot that required an terrific one-handed save. No wonder Pope retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio hit another shot against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing speed had created problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past Trubin after his teammate's early ball into the area proved effective.

When Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a ground ball across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players attacked with real freedom. The winger repeatedly showed an skill to destabilize Howe's back four, and the Magpies were likely relieved to reset at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper again saving his team by tipping the attacker's left-foot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three European appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

Mourinho's winger had already emphasized that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born left-back, and home hearts were nervous every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the crossbar from a good spot. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese defender Silva, had done a good job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing the Germany striker deep. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to show 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 the substitute's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, the winger was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining commendable poise to fire a superb strike past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's legs after receiving Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have four very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his hopes of securing Benfica's first European points of the season.