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When Jose Mourinho arrived at St James' Park and complimented Eddie Howe and his players, local fans feared a difficult game. However such fears vanished thanks to a strike from the winger and a brace from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure the visitors' coach did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Game Flow and Initial Exchanges

Mourinho had predicted that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team showed their similar combative style. The visitors certainly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's early attempts to establish a fluent attacking tempo.

Compounding the home team's issues, key midfielders, Tonali and Joelinton, started on the bench as they continued convalescing from illness and injury respectively.

Before the start, the coaches exchanged a perfunctory, reserved embrace, and it quickly became clear that the Benfica coach had instructed his team to subdue the home fans by slowing the game and lowering the temperature at every chance.

Critical Events and Turning Points

The visitors' strategy yielded mixed outcomes, but when Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through the backline, they at first struggled to generate good chances.

Additionally, the Belgium winger Dodi Lukebakio nearly showed scoring skill when, after beating Dan Burn on the ground, he forced Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that required an terrific one-handed save. It's no surprise the goalkeeper retains hope for an national team recall in time for the World Cup.

But when Lukebakio hit another shot against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Anatoliy Trubin made an excellent near-post stop from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon finally broke the deadlock.

Gordon's blazing speed had caused consternation for the Benfica coach all night, and he neatly side-footed the opener past Trubin after Murphy's quick ball into the area proved effective.

When Newcastle's intense, high press was not second-guessed by the opposition, Murphy, preferred over £55m Anthony Elanga, was there to deliver a low cross across the goal for the winger to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Changes

Right from the start, the Portuguese team could not be blamed of parking the bus and playing for a draw, but now Mourinho's side pushed forward with total freedom. Lukebakio repeatedly displayed an ability to unsettle Howe's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period concluded with Pope once more saving his side by diverting Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the sides came out for the second half, everything seemed evenly balanced.

If Gordon, evidently boosted by netting his fourth goal in three European games this season, played with the zeal of a wide player set to shift the power balance in his team's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

The manager's winger had already shown that, while Burn is a fine central defender, he is not a natural full-back, and Newcastle fans were nervous every time he moved forward.

The Newcastle manager might have relaxed had Miley, filling in for Tonali, not headed a set-piece over the crossbar from a well-placed spot. Instead, this thrilling game continued to swing from one goal to the other, persuading Newcastle's manager to bring on Joelinton and Barnes in place of Ramsey and Murphy.

Mourinho, meanwhile, threw on an additional striker in Franjo Ivanovic. This would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Match

Before that, the away team, and especially their Portugal back Silva, had done a good job in limiting Nick Woltemade's room and forcing Newcastle's Germany centre-forward deep. But now, with right-back Amar Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was clear for Harvey Barnes to prove that Gordon is not Howe's only attacking winger.

Newcastle's two changes was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful throw in Barnes's direction. When Antonio Silva, on this occasion, misjudged the bounce, Barnes was clear, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable composure to fire a superb strike past the keeper.

After Harvey Barnes rolled a low effort through poor Trubin's feet after receiving Gordon's excellent pass, it was all over. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four quick wingers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had shattered his hopes of securing the team's first Champions League result of the season.