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When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, home supporters were concerned about a tough match. However those worries disappeared thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring the visitors' new manager did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their own aggressive approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's initial attempts to establish a fluent passing tempo.

Compounding the home team's issues, key players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they were convalescing from sickness and injury respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to quiet the home fans by slowing the game and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy produced varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first found it hard to create good chances.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgian winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an terrific one-handed stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an national team return in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger directed a further attempt against the post, Newcastle woke up. Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick cross into the box proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to pass a low ball across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with real freedom. The winger consistently displayed an ability to destabilize Howe's back four, and the Magpies were probably grateful to regroup at the break.

The opening period concluded with the keeper again saving his side by diverting the attacker's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the sides came out for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

While Anthony Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had different plans.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good spot. Rather, this thrilling game continued to swing from end to end, prompting the coach to introduce Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese back Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and pushing the German centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the way was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was away, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining impressive composure to lash a sublime shot past the keeper.

When Barnes slid a low effort through poor Trubin's legs after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that Newcastle have several quick wingers, and three goals from two wide men had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first European result of the campaign.