ALAN PARDEW insisted this was not mission impossible.
It is certainly beginning to look that way now.
In a stadium dubbed ‘The Cathedral’, Newcastle came away needing to say even more prayers if they want to turn things around at St James’ Park next Thursday.
But it did not have to be this way.
Papiss Cisse’s 12th-minute opener gave Toon the belief they could stun Benfica and pull off one of the best wins in their European history.
SNAPPY PAPI ... Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse reacts quickly for his early opener
But Tim Krul parried the ball into the path of Rodrigo to equalise.
Then Davide Santon’s hopeless backpass gave Lima the chance to put the two-time European champions ahead in the 65th minute.
NEWCASTLE boss says his side can win if they put opposition under pressure at St James' Park
And Steven Taylor’s careless handball completed a set of errors with Oscar Cardozo extending Benfica’s lead from the penalty spot six minutes later.
CISSE BLISS ... Toon players celebrate their breakthrough
Geordie boss Pards will not write this tie off yet and his attention must immediately return to Premier League survival — starting on Sunday against Fulham.
While the Europa League has become a welcome distraction from Newcastle’s Premier League plight, it has been just that — a distraction.
There was also no doubt what Pardew was prioritising last night as he named his best possible side.
And who could blame him.
The Eagles had won their last 10 games, scored 102 goals in all competitions and are unbeaten in their domestic league.
IN YOU GO ... Benfica hitman Rodrigo watches his leveller
If there was any crumb of comfort for Toon it was that Benfica had not won in their last five games against Premier League opposition.
Local tabloid Record’s headline read “Estas feito o Bife!” — “You’re burnt steak” — apparently a common insult over here. But for all their bullishness in the media, Benfica were nervy early on and Newcastle were on top.
Cisse forced keeper Artur into a second-minute save with a shot from a tight angle on the right.
Then Sylvain Marveaux picked out the Senegal striker with a lovely clipped ball but Cisse failed to control.
Krul was back in goal for the visitors after six weeks out with an ankle injury.
YOU LUCKY ROD ... Benfica scorer Rodrigo enjoys his equaliser
And he almost made an early howler when he spilled Nicolas Gaitan’s swerving 18-yard strike but managed to pick it up with Cardozo steaming in to capitalise.
Newcastle were taking the game to the Eagles and 3,500 travelling fans were in dreamland after 12 minutes.
Danny Simpson sent Moussa Sissoko running down the right and he crossed for the on-rushing Cisse to side-foot home.
Marveaux was guilty of dallying on the ball with an unmarked Cisse screaming for it in the box.
And then Gutierrez slipped in the Toon No 9 but his left-footed effort took a wicked deflection which Artur spooned on to the post. Both keepers were looking edgy and Krul was next to flap to costly effect.
LIMA OF HOPE ... Benfica sub Lima puts the hosts in front
In the 25th minute he parried Cardozo’s powerful shot into the path of ex-Bolton forward Rodrigo, who slipped the rebound under him.
It was the first goal Newcastle had conceded in Europe in 6 hours and 42 minutes. And they would have let in another goal were it not for Krul.
The Dutchman beat away Andre Gomes’ drive and then brilliantly kept out Ola John with a second save. It was a much-needed confidence boost as he then got down smartly to stop Rodrigo’s close-range swivel and shot.
And he was then on hand to parry away former Chelsea midfielder Nemja Matic’s six-yard header.
If Toon were clinging on at the end of the first half, they came out all guns blazing again in the second.
Cisse was a whisker away from his second as his left-footed chip clipped keeper Artur and went on to the post.
ZO EASY ... Oscar Cardozo completes Benfica's 3-1 win from the spot
Newcastle now faced the barrage of the first half so they could have done without Santon gifting Benfica the lead. The full-back struggled all game and his woeful attempted backpass was cut out by Lima — who had only been on the pitch four minutes — and he rounded Krul to tap in.
There were 25 minutes left for Newcastle to hang on. They could not even ride it out another six minutes.
Steven Taylor handled in the box and ref Antony Gautier pointed to the penalty spot. Cardozo scored but had to retake it for encroachment.
He kept his nerve to comfortably notch his 28th of the season.
Toon just about clung on but their Euro campaign is now on the brink.
STAR MAN - LIMA (Benfica)
NEWCASTLE: Krul 6, Simpson 6 (Gosling 5), S Taylor 5, Yanga-Mbiwa 6, Santon 4, Cabaye 6, Perch 6 (Anita 5), Marveaux 7 (Ameobi 5), Sissoko 7, Gutierrez 6, Cisse 7. Subs not used: Elliot, Williamson, Obertan, Campbell. Booked: Perch, Ameobi.
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