Europa League - Everton 2 Sporting Lisbon 1:DAVID MOYES faced the press for as long as his rising fury would allow but, with anger threatening to consume him, bid an abrupt farewell with his Portuguese interpreter in full flow. The reaction was understandable given Everton's foolish late implosion at Goodison Park.
Everton were on easy street but finished in a cul-de-sac after dreadful errors from Jack Rodwell and Sylvain Distin conspired to transform this tie in Lisbon’s favour. Distin will be suspended as a consequence of the red card he conceded for Sporting’s late penalty and, with John Heitinga ineligible, Moyes’ side must defend a precarious lead without their first-choice central defence.
On a night when Marouane Fellaini was ruled out for six months with the ankle injury inflicted by Sotirios Kyrgiakos in the Merseyside derby, and Tim Cahill joined him on the sidelines, victory brought little joy. “The tie looks a lot different now,” said Moyes. “I thought we looked more likely to finish 3-0 than 2-1 but we didn’t go for it enough late on.”
Cahill’s partnership with Louis Saha offered a potent outlet in the early stages and their first combination almost brought a breakthrough only for goalkeeper Rui Patricio to smother the French striker’s shot. His second save was even better, reacting superbly to tip Leon Osman’s effort wide from the rebound.The home side created several half chances before taking the lead. Phil Neville pierced the defence with a pass into Cahill, who drew his marker and the goalkeeper before jabbing a back-heel into the path of Steven Pienaar. The South African shot into the top corner.
Sporting should have departed level at the interval as Tim Howard parried Mendes’ volley into the path of Joao Moutinho but the Sporting captain wanted too long on the ball. Izmailov then struck the outside of Howard’s near post.
The night appeared to going entirely Everton’s way when Leighton Baines’ corner at the start of the second half eluded the goalkeeper and struck Distin on the arm before rolling over the line. Despite the presence of an additional assistant referee behind the net, the goal was given.
Everton were only five minutes from a clean sheet when substitute Rodwell struck a careless pass straight at Distin. The centre half was easily dispossessed by Liedson before tripping the forward inside the area. The penalty and red card brooked no argument and Miguel Veloso sent Howard – and Everton – the wrong way from the spot.
Guardian Service
EVERTON:Howard, Neville, Yobo, Distin, Baines, Donovan, Arteta (Rodwell 78), Osman, Pienaar, Cahill (Yakubu 62), Saha (Bilyaletdinov 83). Subs not used:Nash, Vaughan, Gosling, Coleman.
SPORTING LISBON:Rui Patricio, Abel, Tonel, Daniel Carrico, Grimi, Mendes, Veloso, Izmailov, Fernandez (Carlos Saleiro 66), Joao Moutinho (Djalo 66), Liedson. Subs not used:Tiago, Anderson Polga, Adrien Silva, Vukcevic, Bruno Pereirinha. Booked: Joao Moutinho, Daniel Carrico.
Referee:Darko Ceferin (Slovenia).
