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When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, home fans feared a tough game. However such worries disappeared due to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, ensuring the visitors' coach would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Game Flow and Early Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be very physical, but his Benfica players displayed their similar combative approach. Benfica certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial efforts to build a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, began as substitutes as they were convalescing from illness and a knock respectively.

Before the start, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had told his side to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Critical Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' strategy yielded varied outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's backline, they initially found it hard to create clear chances.

Additionally, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly demonstrated how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a powerful shot that got an excellent single-hand stop. It's no surprise Pope still hopes for an England recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when Lukebakio hit another attempt against the post, the home side roused themselves. Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent close-range stop from Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

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 Murphy's quick ball into the box paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's intense, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side attacked with real abandon. The winger repeatedly displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were likely grateful to reset at the break.

The opening period ended with the keeper once more rescuing his team by diverting Lukebakio's left-foot around the goal frame, and as the teams emerged for the second half, the match seemed evenly poised.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by scoring his fourth strike in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the determination of a winger set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's direction, Lukebakio had other plans.

The manager's winger had already emphasized that, while Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time he advanced.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to move from end to end, prompting Newcastle's coach to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, at the same time, threw on an extra striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in restricting Woltemade's space and pushing the German striker back. But now, with defender Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was open for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, sprinting into the penalty box before maintaining commendable poise to fire a superb strike past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor Trubin's legs after receiving Anthony Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have several very fast wide attackers, and three goals from two wingers had shattered his chances of earning Benfica's first Champions League points of the campaign.