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As the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and praised Eddie Howe and his squad, local fans were concerned about a tough match. But those worries disappeared thanks to a strike from Anthony Gordon and a brace from replacement the forward, making sure Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Match Dynamics and Early Exchanges

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his Benfica players showed their similar combative approach. Benfica clearly delighted in disrupting the Magpies' early efforts to establish a fluent passing tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, two players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began on the bench as they continued recovering from illness and injury each.

Prior to the start, the coaches exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it quickly became clear that Mourinho had told his side to subdue the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Key Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced mixed results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through Benfica's backline, they initially struggled to generate good chances.

Additionally, Benfica's Belgium winger Lukebakio almost demonstrated scoring skill when, after leaving Dan Burn behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous strike that required an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed a further attempt against the woodwork, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy shot wide, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive close-range stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last broke the deadlock.

The England winger's scorching pace had caused problems for Mourinho all evening, and he calmly side-footed the first goal past the goalkeeper after his teammate's quick cross into the area proved effective.

When Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not anticipated by Benfica, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low cross across the goal for Gordon to polish off.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players pushed forward with total freedom. Lukebakio consistently displayed an skill to unsettle Howe's defense, and the home team were probably grateful to regroup at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope again saving his team by tipping the attacker's shot wide of the post, and as the sides came out for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

If Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European games this season, played with the determination of a wide player set to shift the power balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had different plans.

Mourinho's winger had previously shown that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time Lukebakio advanced.

Howe might have relaxed had Lewis Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a good spot. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from end to end, persuading Newcastle's coach to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, brought on an additional forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk too far.

Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portugal back Silva, had performed a fine job in restricting Nick Woltemade's space and forcing the Germany centre-forward back. However, with defender Amar Dedic off, the defense was weakened, and the path was clear for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

The home side's two changes was already paying off by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was clear, sprinting into the area before keeping commendable poise to lash a sublime shot past Trubin.

When Barnes rolled a low effort through poor the goalkeeper's feet after receiving Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had shattered his hopes of securing Benfica's first European points of the season.