Everton remain on course to qualify for the last 16 of the Europa League after a 2-1 win over Sporting Lisbon.
Goals from Steven Pienaar and Sylvain Distin were enough to give the Blues the upper hand in tonight's game at Goodison Park despite a late consolation by Miguel Veloso.
David Moyes, who confirmed before kick-off the grim news that the injury Marouane Fellaini sustained in the Merseyside derby earlier this month would sideline him for up to six months, sent out a strong side on the back of last week's league win over Chelsea.
Despite the early evening start seeing a reduced attendance, Everton stamped their authority on the game as early as 12 minutes when Tim Cahill and Leon Osman tested Rui Patricio, forcing the Portuguese stopper to pull of an impressive double save to deny the duo. The Australian went close again minutes later when he met Leighton Baines' corner unmarked but could not hit the target and saw his effort flash wide.
Baines was at the heart of another move when Landon Donovan attempted an audacious lob whilst at the other end the visitors attempted to threaten the Goodison back line with winger Abel having their best effort with a long-range effort.
On 35 minutes the deadlock was broken by Pienaar, playing his 100th game for the club, after some impressive play by the home side. Phil Neville found Cahill within shooting distance on the right-hand side of the penalty area but the Australian backheeled the ball into the path of his South African team mate who side-footed high into the roof of the net.
Mendes and Izmailov both tested Tim Howards with a series of efforts before the interval as Louis Saha sent a looping header over the crossbar after further stirling work by Baines.
After the break Distin doubled the advantage amidst confusion and embarrassment after Cahill and Patricio had collided. The ball brushed the Frenchman's body and rolled into the empty net amidst protests by Sporting players that Cahill had man-handled their goalkeeper.
However the goalscorer went from hero to villain on 86 minutes when he was sent off for bringing down Liedson in the penalty area following a poorly-controlled pass from Jack Rodwell. Voloso despatched the resulting spot kick with ease to give his side a decisive away goal ahead of next week's return leg in Lisbon.
FINAL SCORE: EVERTON 2-1 SPORTING
EVERTON: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Distin, Baines, Donovan, Arteta, Osman, Pienaar, Cahill (Yakubu), Saha. Subs (not used): Nash, Bilyaletdinov, Vaughan, Gosling, Rodwell, Coleman.
SPORTING: Rui Patricio, Abel, Tonel, Daniel Carrico, Grimi, Mendes, Veloso, Izmailov, Fernandez, Joao Moutinho, Liedson. Subs (not used): Tiago, Anderson Polga, Adrien Silva, Carlos Saleiro, Vukcevic, Djalo, Bruno Pereirinha.
Referee: Darko Ceferin
Attendance: 28,131
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