Source: SKY_Sports
Benfica smash sorry Everton
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Everton slumped to a disappointing 5-0 defeat to Europa League rivals Benfica in the Estadio da Luz.[LNB] 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.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]Benfica were winning the majority of possession, but Di Maria saw his effort in front of goal turned away by an alert Sylvain Distin.[LNB]Everton pushed up field in the 31st minute, but Marouane Fellaini headed wide following a corner from Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.[LNB]Back came Benfica, and Nascimento Ramires headed across the face of the goal - with Di Maria supplying the delivery.[LNB]ReactionEverton, though, were gradually beginning to threaten - and Bilyaletdinov thumped a shot wide in the 34th minute.[LNB]Then the Russian cut inside but failed to test goalkeeper Julio Cesar, sending his effort over the bar.[LNB]Benfica launched a swift counter-attack in the 39th minute, only for Ramires to find the side-netting from an acute angle.[LNB]Everton made a shocking start to the second half and suddenly found themselves 3-0 down.[LNB]BraceCardozo scored both at the back post, the first with a close-range finish in the 46th minute, the second a header 60 seconds later.[LNB]Saviola and Di Maria set up the goals, and it was becoming a defensive nightmare for Everton without the likes of several experienced players.[LNB]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.[LNB]Benfica made it 5-0 in the 84th minute when Saviola got his second of the match after a cross from Di Maria.[LNB]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.[LNB][LNB]BenficaTeam StatisticsEverton5Goals011st Half Goals08Shots on Target18Shots off Target72Blocked Shots15Corners212Fouls156Offsides50Yellow Cards20Red Cards082.2Passing Success75.517Tackles2164.7Tackles Success8153.8Possession46.245Territorial Advantage55
