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As Jose Mourinho arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters feared a difficult game. But such fears disappeared due to a strike from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's new manager would not cause any trouble for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his own team showed their similar aggressive approach. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's early efforts to build a fluent attacking rhythm.

Adding to the home team's issues, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they were recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers shared a brief, reserved greeting, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by slowing the game and lowering the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Moments and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic yielded mixed results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to create clear opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful strike that got an terrific one-handed save. No wonder Pope still hopes for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio directed a further attempt against the post, Newcastle woke up. Jacob Murphy shot off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching speed had created consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly slotted the opener past Trubin after his teammate's quick ball into the box paid off.

When the Magpies' hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground ball across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their side attacked with real freedom. The winger consistently showed an ability to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the home team were likely relieved to reset at the break.

The opening period ended with Pope again saving his team by tipping the attacker's left-foot wide of the post, and as the teams emerged for the second half, everything seemed finely poised.

If Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three European appearances this season, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

The manager's winger had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio moved forward.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner over the crossbar from a good spot. Rather, this absorbing game continued to move from end to end, persuading Newcastle's coach to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Barnes Seals the Match

Before that, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the way was open for Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a superb long throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the area before maintaining commendable composure to fire a superb shot past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's feet after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his hopes of earning Benfica's first Champions League result of the campaign.