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As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters feared a difficult game. But such worries vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and two more from substitute the forward, making sure the visitors' new manager did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar combative approach. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' early efforts to establish a fluent attacking rhythm.

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

Before the start, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through the defensive barricades, they at first struggled to generate good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an terrific single-hand save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio directed another shot off the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching pace had created consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick ball into the area proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their players attacked with real freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the Magpies were probably relieved to regroup at half-time.

The first half ended with the keeper again saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's shot wide of the post, and as the sides emerged for the next period, everything seemed evenly balanced.

While Gordon, clearly boosted by scoring his fourth goal in three Champions League games this season, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to shift the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had different ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had already shown that, while Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

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

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in restricting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. But now, with defender Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, accelerating into the area before keeping commendable poise to lash a superb shot past the keeper.

After Barnes rolled a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have several very fast wingers, and three goals from two wide men had shattered his hopes of earning the team's first European result of the campaign.