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When the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and praised Newcastle's coach and his players, local supporters were concerned about a difficult game. However those fears vanished due to a strike from the winger and two more from substitute the forward, ensuring Benfica's coach would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Action

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their similar combative approach. Benfica clearly enjoyed disrupting the Magpies' initial efforts to build a smooth attacking tempo.

Adding to Newcastle's challenges, two players, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they were recovering from sickness and a knock each.

Prior to kick-off, the two managers exchanged a brief, cool greeting, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had told his team to quiet the crowd by delaying Newcastle and lowering the temperature whenever possible.

Key Events and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic produced varied results, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to dismantle the defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to create good chances.

Moreover, the Belgian attacker Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous strike that required an terrific single-hand save. No wonder the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio hit another attempt off the woodwork, the home side roused themselves. Murphy shot wide, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post save from Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing pace had caused problems for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly side-footed the opener past Trubin after Murphy's early ball into the box proved effective.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a ground cross across the face of goal for the winger to polish off.

Second Half and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with real freedom. Lukebakio consistently showed an ability to destabilize Howe's back four, and the Magpies were likely relieved to regroup at half-time.

The first half concluded with Pope again saving his team by diverting the attacker's shot around the post, and as the sides emerged for the next period, everything seemed finely balanced.

While Anthony Gordon, evidently buoyed by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player aiming to shift the power balance in Newcastle's favor, the Benfica attacker had other plans.

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

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the bar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this absorbing contest continued to move from end to end, prompting the coach to bring on the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

The Benfica boss, at the same time, threw on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would perhaps prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Until then, the away team, and in particular their Portugal back Silva, had done a fine job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing the Germany striker deep. However, with defender Dedic off, the defense was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to prove that Gordon is not the manager's only goal-scoring wide player.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful long throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misjudged the flight, the winger was away, accelerating into the area before keeping commendable poise to fire a sublime shot past the keeper.

After Barnes rolled a shot through poor Trubin's legs after meeting Gordon's stellar through ball, it was all over. Mourinho had warned that Newcastle have several quick wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had shattered his chances of securing Benfica's first Champions League points of the campaign.