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When Jose Mourinho came at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, home fans were concerned about a tough game. However those fears disappeared due to a strike from Anthony Gordon and two more from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Early Action

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their own combative approach. Benfica certainly enjoyed disrupting Newcastle's initial efforts to establish a fluent passing rhythm.

Adding to Newcastle's issues, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they continued convalescing from sickness and injury respectively.

Before the start, the coaches shared a perfunctory, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had told his side to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

Benfica's strategy produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the backline, they at first found it hard to generate good opportunities.

Additionally, the Belgian attacker Lukebakio almost showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that got an excellent one-handed save. No wonder Pope retains hope for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger hit another shot against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post stop from Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching pace had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's early cross into the area proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a ground ball across the goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side attacked with total abandon. The winger consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were probably grateful to reset at the break.

The first half ended with the keeper again rescuing his team by diverting the attacker's left-foot wide of the post, and as the teams emerged for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

While Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European games this season, played with the determination of a winger set to alter the power balance in his team's favor, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's No 11 had previously emphasized that, while Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time Lukebakio advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Tonali, not directed a set-piece over the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Rather, this absorbing game continued to swing from end to end, persuading the coach to bring on the midfielder and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an extra striker in Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble too far.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany striker back. However, with right-back Dedic substituted, the defense was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a wonderful throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable poise to fire a superb shot past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a low effort through poor Trubin's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar pass, it was finished. Mourinho had cautioned that the Magpies have four very fast wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his chances of earning the team's first European result of the campaign.