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When the Benfica manager arrived at Newcastle's stadium and praised Newcastle's coach and his squad, local supporters feared a difficult match. However those fears vanished due to a goal from the winger and a brace from replacement Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's coach would not cause any trouble for Howe's team.

Match Dynamics and Early Action

Mourinho had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar combative approach. Benfica certainly delighted in breaking up the Magpies' early attempts to build a fluent attacking rhythm.

Adding to the home team's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and the Brazilian, started on the bench as they continued recovering from illness and injury respectively.

Before the start, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it soon became apparent that Mourinho had instructed his side to quiet the crowd by slowing the game and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Key Moments and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy produced varied results, but when Gordon and the Newcastle attack managed to break through the defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to create clear chances.

Moreover, the Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Newcastle's keeper with a powerful strike that required an excellent one-handed stop. It's no surprise Pope retains hope for an England recall in time for the World Cup.

Yet when the winger directed a further attempt off the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an impressive near-post save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the scoreless tie.

The England winger's scorching speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all evening, and he neatly slotted the opener past the goalkeeper after Murphy's quick ball into the area paid off.

On the occasion the Magpies' intense, pressing game was not second-guessed by the opposition, Jacob Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was available to deliver a low ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Second Half and Match-Winning Substitutions

From the beginning, the Portuguese team could not be accused of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now their players attacked with real abandon. The winger repeatedly showed an skill to destabilize Howe's defense, and the home team were likely grateful to regroup at half-time.

The first half ended with Pope again rescuing his side by tipping Lukebakio's left-foot around the post, and as the sides came out for the next period, the match seemed finely poised.

While Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three European appearances this campaign, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the balance in Newcastle's favor, Lukebakio had different ideas.

The manager's No 11 had already shown that, while Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and home hearts were nervous every time he advanced.

Howe might have felt easier had Miley, filling in for Sandro Tonali, not directed a set-piece above the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this thrilling game continued to move from one goal to the other, persuading the coach to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an extra forward in Franjo Ivanovic. It would perhaps prove a gamble that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Seals the Game

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portuguese back Silva, had done a good job in restricting Woltemade's room and pushing the Germany centre-forward deep. But now, with defender Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was clear for Barnes to show that Gordon is not Howe's only goal-scoring winger.

Newcastle's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope dispatched a wonderful throw in Barnes's path. When Antonio Silva, for once, misread the bounce, the winger was clear, sprinting into the penalty box before keeping impressive poise to lash a superb strike past Trubin.

When Harvey Barnes slid a low effort through poor Trubin's feet after meeting Gordon's excellent through ball, it was all over. The Benfica manager had cautioned that Newcastle have several quick wide attackers, and a trio of strikes from two wingers had shattered his hopes of earning the team's first European points of the campaign.