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As the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local fans feared a difficult game. However those worries vanished thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and a brace from substitute the forward, ensuring the visitors' new manager would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be very physical, but his Benfica players showed their similar combative approach. The visitors clearly delighted in breaking up Newcastle's early attempts to build a fluent passing tempo.

Compounding Newcastle's challenges, two midfielders, Sandro Tonali and the Brazilian, began as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock respectively.

Before kick-off, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it quickly became apparent that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to quiet the home fans by slowing the game and reducing the intensity whenever possible.

Critical Events and Turning Points

Benfica's tactic produced mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack succeeded to dismantle Benfica's defensive barricades, they at first struggled to generate clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio almost demonstrated how to finish when, after beating the defender behind, he forced Newcastle's keeper with a tremendous shot that required an excellent single-hand save. No wonder Pope still hopes for an national team recall in time for the global tournament.

Yet when the winger directed another attempt off the woodwork, the home side woke up. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally opened the scoreless tie.

The England winger's blazing speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he calmly slotted the first goal past Trubin after Murphy's early cross into the box proved effective.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, high press was not anticipated by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, chosen over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a ground cross across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Match-Winning Changes

From the beginning, Benfica could not be blamed of defending deeply and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with real freedom. The winger repeatedly displayed an skill to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably relieved to regroup at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more rescuing his team by tipping the attacker's shot around the goal frame, and as the sides emerged for the next period, everything seemed finely balanced.

If Anthony Gordon, clearly boosted by netting his fourth goal in three Champions League appearances this campaign, played with the determination of a wide player set to alter the balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had other ideas.

The manager's winger had previously shown that, while Dan Burn is a capable central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and home hearts were in mouths every time he advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not headed a corner above the bar from a good spot. Rather, this absorbing game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading the manager to introduce the midfielder and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

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

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, Benfica, and in particular their Portuguese back Antonio Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's space and forcing Newcastle's German striker back. But now, with right-back Dedic substituted, the backline was underpowered, and the path was open for Barnes to show that Anthony Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in the substitute's path. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misread the flight, Barnes was away, accelerating into the area before maintaining commendable composure to lash a sublime strike past the keeper.

When Harvey Barnes rolled a shot through poor the goalkeeper's legs after meeting Anthony Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that the Magpies have several quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wingers had destroyed his chances of earning the team's first European result of the season.