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When Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, local supporters feared a difficult game. However such fears disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' coach did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar aggressive approach. Benfica certainly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's early efforts to build a fluent passing tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, key players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, started as substitutes as they were convalescing from sickness and injury respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the crowd by slowing Newcastle and reducing the intensity at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy produced mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle the backline, they initially struggled to generate clear chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium winger Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an terrific one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio directed a further shot off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing 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 early cross into the box proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was available to pass a low ball across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Second Half and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their players pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at the break.

The first half ended with Pope once more rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the sides came out for the second half, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a born left-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner above the bar from a well-placed position. Rather, this thrilling contest continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's coach to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing the Germany striker deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the way was open for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the area before keeping impressive poise to fire a sublime shot past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a shot through poor Trubin's legs after meeting Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have several quick wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his chances of securing Benfica's first European points of the season.