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When Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, home fans feared a difficult match. However such worries vanished due to a goal from the winger and two more from substitute the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager would not cause pain for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Early Action

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's early attempts to build a smooth attacking rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and injury each.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had told his side to subdue the crowd by delaying the game and reducing the temperature whenever possible.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy produced varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle the defensive barricades, they initially struggled to generate good opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an excellent one-handed stop. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger hit a further shot off the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the box proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a ground ball across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their side attacked with real abandon. The winger repeatedly showed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to regroup at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's shot wide of the post, and as the sides emerged for the next period, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had other ideas.

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

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner above the bar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, prompting Newcastle's manager to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

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

Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward deep. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the area before keeping commendable poise to fire a superb strike past the keeper.

When Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have several very fast wide attackers, and three goals from two wide men had shattered his hopes of earning the team's first European points of the campaign.