Everton slumped to a disappointing 5-0 defeat to Europa League rivals Benfica in the Estadio da Luz.
Inexperienced Toffees well beaten in Portugal
Everton slumped to a disappointing 5-0 defeat to Europa League rivals Benfica in the Estadio da Luz.
David Moyes made a number of changes to his side, with 11 players unavailable for the Group I match, and his new-look team were played off the park by an impressive Benfica outfit.
He gave a debut to Irish left-back Seamus Coleman in the absence of Leighton Baines, and the youngster was beaten at the back post for the first goal on 14 minutes as Javier Saviola volleyed a Angel Di Maria cross past Tim Howard.
It stayed that way until the break, but Benfica came out firing in the second half and Oscar Cardozo hit two goals in two minutes immediately after the restart.
Captain Luisao then headed the fourth from a corner before Saviola completed the rout with seven minutes remaining - latching on to a Di Maria cross after a swift break.
Everton were always chasing the game, and Luisao should have put Benfica ahead in the fifth minute when he headed wide following a corner from Pablo Aimar.
The home side made the breakthrough in the 14th minute with a superb half-volley from Saviola after a crossfield pass from Di Maria split the defence.
Benfica were winning the majority of possession, but Di Maria saw his effort in front of goal turned away by an alert Sylvain Distin.
Everton pushed up field in the 31st minute, but Marouane Fellaini headed wide following a corner from Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.
Back came Benfica, and Nascimento Ramires headed across the face of the goal - with Di Maria supplying the delivery.
Reaction
Everton, though, were gradually beginning to threaten - and Bilyaletdinov thumped a shot wide in the 34th minute.
Then the Russian cut inside but failed to test goalkeeper Julio Cesar, sending his effort over the bar.
Benfica launched a swift counter-attack in the 39th minute, only for Ramires to find the side-netting from an acute angle.
Everton made a shocking start to the second half and suddenly found themselves 3-0 down.
Brace
Cardozo scored both at the back post, the first with a close-range finish in the 46th minute, the second a header 60 seconds later.
Saviola and Di Maria set up the goals, and it was becoming a defensive nightmare for Everton without the likes of several experienced players.
Then Luisao increased their misery in the 52nd minute - extending Benfica's lead to 4-0 after Coleman made a desperate but vain attempt to keep the ball out.
Benfica made it 5-0 in the 84th minute when Saviola got his second of the match after a cross from Di Maria.
Everton were chasing shadows, and the final whistle must have come as a huge relief to Moyes and his players - not to mention the 6,000 travelling fans.
| Benfica |
Team Statistics |
Everton |
| 5 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 8 |
Shots on Target |
1 |
| 8 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
1 |
| 5 |
Corners |
2 |
| 12 |
Fouls |
15 |
| 6 |
Offsides |
5 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 82.2 |
Passing Success |
75.5 |
| 17 |
Tackles |
21 |
| 64.7 |
Tackles Success |
81 |
| 53.8 |
Possession |
46.2 |
| 45 |
Territorial Advantage |
55 |
|
