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As the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, local fans were concerned about a tough match. But such worries disappeared due to a strike from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring the visitors' new manager did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team displayed their own aggressive style. Benfica certainly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' early attempts to build a smooth attacking rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, two players, Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they were convalescing from illness and a knock respectively.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially struggled to create good opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving the defender on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that got an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

But when the winger directed another attempt against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

Gordon's scorching pace had created consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past Trubin after Murphy's early ball into the box paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a ground ball across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their players pushed forward with real freedom. The winger repeatedly showed an ability to destabilize Howe's defense, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period ended with the keeper again saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to alter the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other ideas.

Mourinho's winger had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time he advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not directed a corner over the bar from a well-placed position. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to move from end to end, prompting the coach to introduce Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker back. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was weakened, and the path was open for Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb long throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was away, accelerating into the penalty box before maintaining commendable poise to fire a superb shot past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had shattered his hopes of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the season.