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As the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local fans were concerned about a difficult game. However such worries vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' new manager did not inflict any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Flow and Initial Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors clearly delighted in disrupting Newcastle's initial efforts to build a smooth passing rhythm.

Compounding the home team's challenges, key players, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and injury respectively.

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his side to quiet the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Key Events and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy produced varied outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates managed to dismantle the defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to generate clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving the defender behind, he forced Nick Pope with a powerful strike that got an excellent single-hand stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an England return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed a further attempt off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's early cross into the area proved effective.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a low ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with real freedom. The winger consistently showed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were probably relieved to reset at the break.

The opening period concluded with Pope again saving his team by tipping Lukebakio's shot wide of the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, the match seemed evenly poised.

If Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European games this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to alter the power balance in his team's direction, Lukebakio had different ideas.

Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home hearts were nervous every time he moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a good position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting the coach to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had done a good job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany centre-forward back. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the way was clear for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, Barnes was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping impressive poise to lash a superb shot past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a shot through unfortunate Trubin's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that the Magpies have four quick wide attackers, and three goals from two wide men had destroyed his chances of securing the team's first European result of the campaign.