Toffees come unstuck in Portugal

22 October 2009 19:29
David Moyes saw his depleted Everton side spectacularly dismantled in the space of five second-half minutes at the Estadio da Luz as they were beaten 5-0 by Benfica.[LNB]Any hopes of a recovery in this Europa League match - after Javier Saviola had opened the scoring - vanished as Oscar Cardozo scored twice and Luisao added to the gains to put Benfica on the road to an emphatic victory.[LNB]Saviola added a fifth goal - and despite the absence of 11 players, Everton boss Moyes must have been left bewildered at the way the Toffees caved in.[LNB]In the process, Everton suffered their first defeat in Group I and their first in eight games in all competitions.[LNB]The home side made the breakthrough in the 14th minute with a superb half-volley from Saviola after a crossfield pass from Angel Di Maria split the defence, before Cardozo scored twice after the break, with a close-range finish and a header.[LNB]Then Luisao increased their misery in the 52nd minute - extending Benfica's lead to 4-0 after Seamus Coleman made a desperate but vain attempt to keep the ball out, before Saviola completed the rout after a cross from Di Maria.

Source: Eurosport