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When the Benfica manager came at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his squad, local supporters were concerned about a difficult game. However those worries disappeared due to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, making sure the visitors' new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their own aggressive style. Benfica certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to build a fluent attacking rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, key midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they continued convalescing from illness and a knock each.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches shared a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to subdue the home fans by slowing the game and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy yielded varied results, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to break through the backline, they initially struggled to create clear opportunities.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that got an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger directed another attempt against the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing speed had created problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick cross into the area proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a low ball across the goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of defending deeply and seeking a point, but now their side pushed forward with real abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly showed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by diverting the attacker's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three European appearances this season, played with the determination of a wide player set to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

The manager's winger had already emphasized that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a born full-back, and home fans were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the bar from a well-placed position. Instead, this thrilling game continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting Newcastle's coach to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal defender Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's German striker back. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, for once, misread the bounce, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the area before maintaining commendable composure to fire a superb strike past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have several very fast wingers, and three goals from two wingers had destroyed his chances of securing Benfica's first European result of the campaign.