Classy Benfica beat Toffees

Portuguese win thanks to goals from Saviola and Cardozo

Last updated: 6th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Classy Benfica beat Toffees

Cardozo: On target

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Everton were again outclassed by Benfica as David Moyes' side went down 2-0 at Goodison Park in the Europa League.

After beating the Toffees 5-0 in Portugal a fortnight ago, Benfica turned on the style in the second period and deservedly won through Javier Saviola and Oscar Cardozo strikes.

The visitors almost took the lead near the end of the first half when Ramires' header hit the post before Tim Howard made a great reaction save to deny Saviola on the rebound.

But Saviola put the visitors in front on 63 minutes, slotting home into the bottom left-hand corner after a fine passing move by the Portuguese side.

Cardozo then made sure of the win when adding the second on 76 minutes to send Benfica three points clear at the top of Group I, with the Toffees remaining second after AEK Athens and BATE Borisov drew 2-2 in Greece.

Everton have now suffered two defeats after two wins and their match against AEK next month is crucial.

This is a worrying spell for manager Moyes as his side are struggling to get going in the Premier League as well.

The Toffees were made to pay here after failing to take advantage of their half-chances in the early stages.

Marouane Fellaini made space inside the area after only four minutes but found the body of Benfica goalkeeper Julio Cesar with his shot.

Legend

In front of club legend Eusebio, the visitors responded 10 minutes later and the highly-rated Angel Di Maria tried a snapshot from 20 yards which was comfortably saved by Howard.

It was a brief respite for the visitors with Leighton Baines picking out Aiyegbeni Yakubu in the 16th minute, with the Nigerian striker turning quickly inside the area but sending his effort wide of the post.

Everton stepped up the pace and Baines saw his shot blocked and Jack Rodwell hoisted the rebound over the bar.

The visitors again found themselves on the back foot in the 24th minute but managed to scramble away Yakubu's effort.

Everton came close in the 28th minute when Cesar pushed a hanging cross out wide from Yakubu over the bar.

Yakubu was getting behind the Benfica defence but he was wasteful two minutes later after Sylvain Distin had delivered a good through-ball.

Di Maria then found space in area but saw his shot blocked before play switched back down the other end and Tim Cahill was denied by the goalkeeper in the 33rd minute.

It took Benfica until the 41st minute to show the kind of danger they posed in the home game against Everton.

Ramires got on the end of a cross from Fabio Coentrao and beat Howard with his header, only to see it come back off the post.

Saviola latched on to the loose ball and hammered in a shot but the American goalkeeper made a superb block.

Second half

The second half was a different story and the chances started when Saviola clipped a shot over the bar in the 49th minute, before Coentrao tested Howard from distance.

Everton were finding it hard to regain the momentum and Ruben Amorim lifted a shot over the bar six minutes later.

Di Maria should have put Benfica ahead in the 56th minute but his shot was high and wasteful when he was clear on goal.

Four minutes later the Argentinean midfielder saw his effort tipped over the top by the alert Howard.

However, the visitors made the all-important breakthrough in the 63rd minute with a swift counter-attack.

Di Maria was involved in the build-up, resulting in a clinical low finish by Saviola which gave Howard no chance.

Saviola then got clear again, only to see his shot diverted for a corner as Everton found themselves under pressure again.

And the Portuguese side made it 2-0 in the 76th minute when Cardozo rattled home a volley after Tony Hibbert failed to close him down.

Distin almost pulled a goal back in the 88th minute but his effort was turned away superbly by Cesar as the night ended in disappointment for the Toffees.

EvertonTeam StatisticsBenfica
0Goals2
01st Half Goals0
3Shots on Target8
7Shots off Target6
3Blocked Shots4
4Corners5
13Fouls19
3Offsides0
3Yellow Cards2
0Red Cards0
70.1Passing Success74.4
26Tackles21
69.2Tackles Success66.7
49.6Possession50.4
49Territorial Advantage51

Comments (1)

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Miguel Assis (Bath City fan) says...

I think you should add Benfica to the list of favourite teams. It is not for every team to beat Everton 5-0 + 2-0. Curiously last time we went to Liverpool it was 1-0 + 2-0 for Benfica, and I was there in Anfield. Benfica did not play as well as in other matches, but the second half showed the perfume of our football. Hope you've liked it! Go Benfica!

Posted 22:58 5th November 2009
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