Everton 3 Larissa 1

Tim Cahill scripted his comeback to perfection with his first goal in almost a year as Everton secured victory in their UEFA Cup Group A opener against Greek outfit Larissa.

On his first start since the beginning of March after a metatarsal injury, the Australia international midfielder opened the scoring with a delightful diving header in the 14th minute.

It was classic Cahill and in the 50th minute his outstanding pass helped to orchestrate Leon Osman's brilliant clincher from 22 yards.

A 65th-minute strike from Cleyton had home nerves jangling but substitute Victor Anichebe ensured Everton rounded off proceedings with a superb late third.

And with Thomas Gravesen also making a return to action after injury, Everton followers left Goodison Park encouraged their side can make a serious impression in the competition this season.

Blues boss David Moyes, still seething from Saturday's controversial Merseyside derby, made five changes to the side which lost 2-1 at home to Liverpool.

Larissa, meanwhile, included former Everton striker Ibrahima Bakayoko in their starting line-up.

The Ivory Coast striker first arrived on Merseyside in October 1998 for £4.5million from Montpellier but after failing to adjust to the English game he joined Olympique Marseille the following summer.

The visitors should have taken a ninth-minute lead when Cleyton sidefooted weakly wide.

Moments later the imposing Bakayoko fleetingly threatened with a menacing run and shot from 18 yards which drew a vital block from Leighton Baines.

After the early scare, Everton drew first blood in the 14th minute.

Osman and Mikel Arteta worked a quick one-two from a corner on the left and Osman's whipped cross was greeted with a diving header from Cahill which flew into the back of the net.

The manner in which Cahill celebrated his goal said everything about his bitterly frustrating spell on the sidelines.

While Everton were busy qualifying for a UEFA Cup spot towards the end of last season, Cahill was forced to watch from the stands.

He originally sustained the injury at Sheffield United on March 3 and then aggravated it in a friendly against Werder Bremen at the end of July.

Indeed, Cahill's only senior action in the past six months had been for his country in the summer's Asia Cup.

But his impressive display confirmed he has lost none of his predatory instincts in front of goal.

It should have been 2-0 in the 21st minute after more good work from Cahill.

Neat footwork from Steven Pienaar down the right flank allowed the South African to find Cahill with a short pass deep in Larissa territory.

The former Millwall man could have shot but opted to pass to James McFadden, but his scuffed effort was easily collected by visiting goalkeeper Stefanos Kotsolis.

Joleon Lescott then accidentally clashed heads with Bakayoko moments later and found himself in the referee's notebook on the half hour after a foul on Georgios Gkalitsios.

With McFadden left to plough a lone furrow in attack, Everton had little physical presence in attack but Arteta, Osman and Cahill offered plenty attacking impetus.

In the 39th minute a deep free-kick from Arteta was volleyed wide by Lescott at the far post and seconds later Cahill fired goalwards from 20 yards with a shot which Kotsolis turned away for a corner.

Everton needed just five minutes of the second half to extend their advantage thanks to Osman's brilliant effort.

The architect of the goal was Cahill, whose outstanding pass sent Baines clear down the left flank.

He whipped in a low cross which Pienaar audaciously flicked into the path of Osman - who slammed the ball into the top corner from 22 yards.

The Greeks pulled a goal back in the 65th minute after Lescott was dispossessed inside his own 18-yard box by Cleyton.

The striker showed admirable pace to glide past the England defender, then Joseph Yobo, before striking a low shot past Tim Howard.

That set the tone for a period of sustained Larissa pressure but Anichebe eased home fears in the 85th minute with a superb run and shot from inside the visiting penalty area to seal an ultimately comfortable win.

Teams

Everton Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Baines,Pienaar (Stubbs 87), Osman, Carsley, Cahill (Gravesen 65),Arteta, McFadden (Anichebe 65).

Subs Not Used: Wessels, Jagielka, Yakubu, Nuno Valente.

Booked: Lescott, Yobo, Gravesen.

Goals: Cahill 14, Osman 50, Anichebe 85.

Larissa Kotsolis, Galitsios, Foerster (Venetis 79), Dabizas,Venetidis, Cleyton, Fotakis, Kiriakidis (Labropoulos 75),Sarmiento, Parra (Kalantzis 58), Bakayoko.

Subs Not Used: Kipouros, Kotsios, Gikas, Katsiaros.

Booked: Dabizas.

Goals: Cleyton 65.

Att: 33,777

Ref: Martin Ingvarsson (Sweden).

http://tiscali.football365.com/Story/0,17257,8696_2824784,00.htm

Great to see Cahill back,excellent start by the blues.:PDT11

Congratulations, lads. :handclap:

Chris

Fabulous goal by Osman. What a move!!

Congratulations, lads. :handclap:

Chris

As you are a red Chris, that's the kind of good sportsmanship I try to encourage my son to be - - but he is a moody teenager and won't have none of it !! :rolleyes:

As you are a red Chris, that's the kind of good sportsmanship I try to encourage my son to be - - but he is a moody teenager and won't have none of it !! :rolleyes:

Hi Lindy

Thanks, Lindy. I lament the hatred between fans supporting various teams that has seemed to have crept into the sport in recent decades. It never used to be that way.

All the best

Chris

Fans should remember that the other fan you 'hate' is only following his team in the way that you are following yours - with eyes only of that colour most of the time - and that goes for those %$*&^%* who support Chelsea and Manure too ha ha :)

That's what I meant by my previous comments about how horrible football fans are with their chanting - and such vile stuff too .. really below the belt.

They are so crude - it's out of order. :disgust: no wonder there are fights.

Whenever I see a red praise the blues - or vice versa - I always point it out to my son and tell him that's the way it should be. Not all vicious and bitter.

Whenever I see a red praise the blues - or vice versa - I always point it out to my son and tell him that's the way it should be. Not all vicious and bitter.


Good on you Lindy.:PDT11

Whenever I see a red praise the blues - or vice versa - I always point it out to my son and tell him that's the way it should be. Not all vicious and bitter.


Seconded. Hear, hear. :handclap:

My brother is a blue (I'm a red). I have to admit that I always want Everton to do well (unless they're playing us!!). I never gloated to Evertonians in the late 70's/early 80's. A mate of mine used to want to stay behind (when we would be at a home game at Anfield) to hear Everton's result (always given last) and he would be ecstatic if Everton had been beaten. I know this applies the other way round too, and that there EFC fans who cheer when we get beat but I thought it was rather peurile to stay behind just to revel in it.

Nuremberg 0-2 Everton

Everton's Anichebe (left) receives praise from fellow striker Yakubu
Substitute Victor Anichebe produced a stunning cameo as Everton secured an impressive Uefa Cup win at Nuremberg.

Anichebe was wrestled to the ground with seven minutes left for Mikel Arteta to score from the spot, before the striker ran through to slot home.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7076600.stm

I'm not expecting us to win it but the boys are doing us proud so far.:handclap:

Fans should remember that the other fan you 'hate' is only following his team in the way that you are following yours - with eyes only of that colour most of the time - and that goes for those %$*&^%* who support Chelsea and Manure too ha ha :)

Well said Ged ! i live in Bolton and the buz around this town at the moment because they drew 2-2 in Germany last night is simply amazing !

The commentator said 3,500 Everton fans were "officially" in the stadium, behind one goal. He said they were scattered everywhere around the stadium, and estimated about 10,000 of them in all - which makes about 20% of the crowd.

10,000?

Yes, one rang the Roger Phillips phone-in yesterday saying the place was heaving with them and estimates then (at 1.30pm UK time) was 9,000. All were in good voice, the beerkellers were full to the rafters and many were mingling with the Germans. The Nurnberg club were still selling tickets to the Evertonians for all parts of the ground so no segregation making a mockery of Uefa claiming it was a high risk game - don't know where they dreamt that one up, must be getting us mixed up???

You could hear the blue boys as though it were a home game sometimes and when the goal went in the camera panned around the ground and they were everywhere. Anichebe is as much our lucky super sub in Europe as Fairclough was for lfc back in the 70s. That's the 3rd time he's come on to settle matters. Yakubu did do a good job tiring those centre backs last night though, he's working a bit harder now than he did in his first 3 or 4 games when he looked sluggish - they were all heroes last night.

Still far too many mistakes at the back - a sharper team would have punished those mistakes.

Yes I agree. After that Arteta shot and the follow up scramble involving Cahill hitting the post after just 30 seconds I thought, he we go, another Everton European thriller - the lads in the studio sure seem to love us.

Those mistakes, especially the one were Yobo played the ball across flat at the back to Lescott who didn't seem to be ready for it was almost reminiscent of the one where Howard rolled the ball out to Lescott - a lack of concentration which must be lectured out of them. If they'd had players whose first touch wasn't like a baby elephants, we might've been in trouble but with the neat one touch footy of Cahill, Arteta and Osman - all midget gems, you always feel we can score these days.

With these 6 points, Moyes may feel like resting a few players against Zenit and perhaps play Vaughan, Gravesen and Wessels - now, if any, is the time fro squad rotation, to rest the best for the rest, having built up a comfortable cushion - even though those he could bring in are hardly unseasoned.

Yes, one rang the Roger Phillips phone-in yesterday saying the place was heaving with them and estimates then (at 1.30pm UK time) was 9,000. All were in good voice, the beerkellers were full to the rafters and many were mingling with the Germans. The Nurnberg club were still selling tickets to the Evertonians for all parts of the ground so no segregation making a mockery of Uefa claiming it was a high risk game - don't know where they dreamt that one up, must be getting us mixed up???

You could hear the blue boys as though it were a home game sometimes and when the goal went in the camera panned around the ground and they were everywhere. Anichebe is as much our lucky super sub in Europe as Fairclough was for lfc back in the 70s. That's the 3rd time he's come on to settle matters. Yakubu did do a good job tiring those centre backs last night though, he's working a bit harder now than he did in his first 3 or 4 games when he looked sluggish - they were all heroes last night.

Well done, Blues. :PDT11 :handclap:

To win away from home 2-0 is a fine achievement.

Chris

Well done, Blues. :PDT11 :handclap:

To win away from home 2-0 is a fine achievement.

Chris

I was quite surprised myself, I was expecting a second half rally from the home team.:unibrow:

There must be a ickle joke in there somewhere but I can't see it yet :ninja:

There must be a ickle joke in there somewhere but I can't see it yet :ninja:

Never heard of a Nuremberg rally ?:rolleyes:

Never heard of a Nuremberg rally ?:rolleyes:

I am reporting you to the bad jokes dept :002:

I am reporting you to the bad jokes dept :002:

:unibrow:

Oh sorry, that's how it's spelt. I thought it was a make of bike:shock:

Really?

No Raleigh :)

Me thinks we have done rally good in Europe

Me thinks we have done rally good in Europe

On yer bike Gnomie.:rolleyes:

Tring Tring

thats me bell :)

I thought Anita Ward was on then?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOtC-xvmFJI

An impressive win for Everton against AZ Alkmaar tonight in Holland. Well done to the Blue wallahs.

:handclap:

Alkmaars 1st home defeat in something like 30 European games, when they needed a win themselves to go through. An excellent win for the Blues.

Well done again, the Blues! Now just go and do the same to Chelsea in the Semi-final of the League Cup! :handclap:

Great result well done you Blues :PDT11

Not bad for a second string team that Moyesy put out,they were actually favourites to win the group and have never lost at home in Europe which is no mean feat,a great totally unexpected win.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

Everton can get Zurich, Galatasaray, Brann Bergen, Aberdeen, Anderlecht or AEK Athens in todays draw or the last 32.

It was not so much only nice for Moysie to overcome well heeled managers such as Dick Advocaat and Louis Van Gaal - check out their cv's, but to ram some outdated stereotypes about Everton down their throats, things like, 'They are a rush and at you team, we are technically better, we will see, we must win to go through and we will'

Some little records achieved there too.....

Ending the longest unbeaten home record of anyone in Europe- 33 games over 30 years. Moyes knew about it but kept it quiet from the players of which he made 7 changes.

Some club records.

Jack Rodwell at 16 years and 284 days who came on with Bjarni Vidarsson became Everton's youngest ever player in Europe beating Jimmy Husband.

This team equalled the class of 85 in winning 5 consequitive European games.

A new club best of 7 consequitive away victories in cup comps.


It's interesting to note that one team we've beaten are already the Russian Champs and another of them is currently top in their league.

Let's hope the little rest given to the likes of Cahill, Arteta and the Yak can pay dividends on Sunday.

Everton have drawn SK Brann of Norway. Second leg at Goodison.

Everton have drawn SK Brann of Norway. Second leg at Goodison.

Easiest draw of the English clubs - their season wont even have started. Fiorentina will be tough in the last 16 though.

Everton have drawn SK Brann of Norway. Second leg at Goodison.


Sounds like they might have a lot of movement in that team! (I'll get me coat)

Yes, it is the easier draw of the English clubs but that is just reward for topping our mini league table so efficiently which meant we could only draw a third placed team. Apparently, they are better known as Bergen of Norway, I just hope the Liverpool supporters don't pile in there to lend them their support :unibrow:


Come what may, at least it's another couple of games for us to look forward to.

Well done Everton you deserve to get an easy draw if there is any such thing in Europian football. You are starting to play well (which it has to be said is gettin on my nerves :unibrow:) but anyway good luck it good Merseyside is doing well. Long may it continue.