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As Jose Mourinho came at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, home supporters feared a tough match. But those worries vanished due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, ensuring the visitors' new manager did not inflict pain for Howe's team.

Game Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his own team displayed their own aggressive style. The visitors clearly enjoyed breaking up the Magpies' initial attempts to build a fluent attacking rhythm.

Compounding the home team's challenges, key midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they were convalescing from illness and a knock each.

Before the start, the coaches shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his side to subdue the crowd by slowing Newcastle and reducing the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy yielded mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through the backline, they at first found it hard to create clear opportunities.

Moreover, Benfica's Belgium attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after beating the defender on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an excellent single-hand stop. No wonder Pope retains hope for an England return in time for the global tournament.

But when the winger directed a further attempt off the post, the home side roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching speed had caused problems for Mourinho all night, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's quick cross into the area proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to pass a low cross across the face of goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with total freedom. The winger consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Howe's defense, and the home team were probably relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with Pope again rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's shot around the goal frame, and as the teams came out for the second half, the match seemed finely poised.

If Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a winger set to shift the balance in his team's favor, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

Mourinho's winger had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural left-back, and home fans were in mouths every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed position. Rather, this thrilling game continued to move from one goal to the other, prompting the manager to bring on Joelinton and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Until then, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's German striker deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the way was open for Harvey Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping commendable composure to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.

After Barnes slid a shot through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first Champions League result of the season.