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When the Benfica manager came at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his players, local supporters were concerned about a difficult match. But such worries vanished due to a goal from the winger and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's coach did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Early Action

Mourinho had predicted that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players displayed their similar combative approach. The visitors clearly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, key players, Tonali and Joelinton, began on the bench as they were convalescing from illness and a knock respectively.

Prior to kick-off, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved greeting, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his team to subdue the crowd by slowing the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Events and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic produced mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first struggled to generate good chances.

Moreover, the Belgium winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that got an excellent one-handed save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

But when Lukebakio hit a further attempt off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Murphy shot off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range stop from Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon at last broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing pace had caused problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick ball into the box paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' hard, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a ground ball across the face of goal for the winger to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with real abandon. The winger repeatedly displayed an skill to destabilize Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were probably relieved to reset at the break.

The first half concluded with the keeper once more rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's shot wide of the post, and as the teams came out for the second half, everything seemed evenly poised.

While Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the determination of a winger set to alter the power balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a corner above the bar from a well-placed position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portuguese defender Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing Newcastle's Germany striker deep. But now, with right-back Dedic substituted, the defense was weakened, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

The home side's two changes was already proving effective by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, the winger was clear, accelerating into the area before maintaining impressive poise to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Barnes slid a shot through unfortunate Trubin's legs after receiving Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have four very fast wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had shattered his chances of securing Benfica's first European result of the campaign.