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As the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Eddie Howe and his players, local supporters were concerned about a difficult match. However those worries disappeared thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from replacement the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach did not inflict any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that the home side would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their own combative style. The visitors certainly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' initial attempts to establish a smooth passing rhythm.

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

Prior to the start, the two managers exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it soon became clear that the Benfica coach had told his side to subdue the home fans by delaying Newcastle and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Key Events and Turning Points

Benfica's strategy yielded varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to dismantle Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to generate clear opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a powerful shot that required an excellent single-hand stop. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an England return in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio hit another shot off the woodwork, Newcastle woke up. Murphy fired wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching speed had caused problems for the Benfica coach all evening, and he calmly side-footed the opener past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick ball into the box proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not anticipated by the opposition, Murphy, chosen over the expensive signing, was available to pass a low ball across the face of goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

Right from the start, Benfica could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side attacked with real abandon. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's defense, and the Magpies were probably relieved to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with the keeper again rescuing his team by diverting the attacker's shot around the post, and as the teams emerged for the second half, everything seemed evenly balanced.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to alter the power balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had different ideas.

Mourinho's winger had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a fine centre-back, he is not a natural left-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time Lukebakio moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner over the crossbar from a good spot. Rather, this thrilling game continued to swing from end to end, persuading the manager to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk too far.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, Benfica, and especially their Portugal back Antonio Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward back. However, with right-back Amar Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time the goalkeeper dispatched a superb throw in the substitute's path. When Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the flight, Barnes was away, sprinting into the area before keeping commendable composure to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

When Barnes rolled a low effort through unfortunate Trubin's legs after receiving Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four very fast wingers, and a trio of strikes from two wide men had destroyed his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League points of the campaign.