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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, home fans feared a difficult match. But such worries vanished due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' coach did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Early Action

The Benfica boss had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's initial efforts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, key midfielders, 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, cool embrace, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' tactic produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through the defensive barricades, they initially struggled to create clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after beating the defender on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful strike that got an terrific single-hand stop. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio hit another attempt off the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an excellent near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

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

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, high press was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a ground cross across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's players pushed forward with real freedom. Lukebakio consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with the keeper once more saving his side by diverting the attacker's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the second half, the match seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the power balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had different plans.

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

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

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an extra striker in Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany striker back. However, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a superb long throw in Barnes's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before maintaining commendable composure to lash a superb strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have several very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had shattered his hopes of earning the team's first Champions League result of the campaign.