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As Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his players, home supporters feared a difficult match. But such fears disappeared due to a strike from the winger and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring Benfica's coach would not cause pain for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Action

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their similar combative approach. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's early efforts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding the home team's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they were recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Before the start, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by slowing the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's tactic produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to create clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium winger Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving the defender behind, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an excellent single-hand stop. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an England return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio hit another shot against the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing pace had created consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after his teammate's early ball into the area proved effective.

When Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a low ball across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their side pushed forward with total freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were probably relieved to regroup at the break.

The first half concluded with Pope again saving his team by tipping the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

If Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

Mourinho's winger had already shown that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born left-back, and Newcastle hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner above the crossbar from a well-placed position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from end to end, prompting Newcastle's manager to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portuguese defender Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing Newcastle's German striker back. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the way was clear for Barnes to show that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, for once, misread the flight, Barnes was clear, sprinting into the area before maintaining impressive composure to lash a superb shot past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's legs after receiving Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have several quick wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had shattered his chances of securing Benfica's first European points of the season.