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When Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local fans feared a difficult match. However those fears vanished due to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, ensuring the visitors' new manager would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive style. The visitors certainly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial attempts to build a smooth attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's issues, two players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued recovering from sickness and injury each.

Before kick-off, the two managers exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that Mourinho had instructed his side to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced varied outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the defensive barricades, they initially struggled to create good opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgian attacker Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after beating the defender on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful shot that required an excellent single-hand save. No wonder the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger hit another shot against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching pace had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's early cross into the area paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their side pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio consistently displayed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper again rescuing his team by tipping Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the sides came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly poised.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this season, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to alter the balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

The manager's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not headed a corner above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this absorbing game continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portugal defender Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing the German centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in Barnes's path. When Silva, for once, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining impressive poise to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.

When Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several quick wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first European points of the season.