Greg O’Keeffe match report: Everton’s Portuguese Shocker against Sporting Lisbon

26 February 2010 06:50
THE cinema inside Sporting Lisbon's Jose Alvalade stadium complex was showing 'It's Complicated', but the reason for Everton's Europa League demise in Lisbon last night was depressingly simple.[LNB]David Moyes' men were essentially undone by that fateful lapse of concentration in the first leg of this tie at Goodison Park.[LNB]The slip which allowed Sporting to score a vital away goal gave the Portugese outfit real momentum in the tie, and allowed them to face Everton in their own back yard with optimism.[LNB]Crucially too, Everton had to change the defensive solidity which has served them so well in the Premier League.[LNB]David Moyes made two changes from the team which put Manchester United to the sword so stylishly last weekend.[LNB]The Scot was reluctantly forced to opt for a first-time central defensive partnership of Jospeh Yobo and Philippe Senderos, with John Heitinga ineligible and Sylvain Distin banned.[LNB]Making only his second start in a Royal Blue shirt - and in such a crucial game - represented a considerable challenge to the Swiss international's resolve.[LNB]He performed solidly enough alongside the Nigerian, but their newness made for a disjointed and nervy overall defensive showing which discouraged Everton from probing in attack, and further handed Sporting conviction.[LNB]It was imperative that the Toffees soaked up the early pressure without conceding, and they had a reprieve when Moutinho curled a delicate free kick onto the crossbar after a foul by Senderos. Liedson blasted the rebound wide, as Everton rode their luck.[LNB]Tim Howard's opposite number, Rui Patricio, could have been forgiven for ordering a few espressos at half time to stay awake, after a half when he might as well have pulled up a seat to watch from his goal mouth.[LNB]But then just before the break, Everton almost took an unlikely lead. From one of only a handful of attacks, Leighton Baines swung a long-range free kick into the area and Senderos was narrowly offside as he lashed the ball into the back of the net. As ever, the Blues were roared on by an impressive away following which compensated in volume and character for the numerous empty seats in the rest of the Jose Alvalade stadium.[LNB]Diniyar Bilyaletdinov had been a hero after the conviction with which he gave his side the lead against United at the weekend, but the contrary Russian had a half to forget.[LNB]Sporting resumed the second half with the same tenacity and Miguel Veloso's corner was hooked over the bar by Liedson.[LNB]By then Everton had gone almost 145 minutes of football without an injury, so by their wretched luck this season they were due one. Philippe Senderos obliged, limping off with 52 minutes gone to hand Phil Jagielka a mammoth task.

Source: Liverpool_Echo