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As Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his players, home fans feared a difficult game. However such fears vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their own aggressive approach. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's initial attempts to establish a fluent passing tempo.

Adding to the home team's issues, key players, Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they continued recovering from illness and a knock respectively.

Before the start, the two managers exchanged a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to subdue the home fans by delaying Newcastle and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Events and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic produced varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they initially struggled to generate clear chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating the defender behind, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful shot that required an terrific single-hand save. No wonder Pope retains hope for an England return in time for the global tournament.

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

The England winger's scorching speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick ball into the box paid off.

When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a low ball across the goal for the winger to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their players pushed forward with total abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the home team were likely grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more rescuing his side by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, the match seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently boosted by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's winger had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were in mouths every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a corner above the bar from a well-placed position. Instead, this thrilling contest continued to swing from end to end, persuading the coach to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, brought on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, the away team, and in particular their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had done a good job in limiting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German centre-forward deep. But now, with right-back Dedic substituted, the backline was weakened, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, sprinting into the area before keeping commendable composure to lash a sublime shot past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor Trubin's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have several very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from a pair of wingers had shattered his chances of securing Benfica's first Champions League points of the campaign.