Everton opened their Europa League Group I account by knocking four goals passed AEK, in a game that also saw two red cards.
The home team started well with an early goal with Joseph Yobo’s header and soon after new recruit Sylvain Distin extended the lead. Midfielder Stephen Pienaar fired in a stunning third shortly before the half time break, with the Brazilian Jo turning swiftly to add a late fourth.
The visiting side had Carlos Araujo red carded after the second half restart for kicking out at Distin and Louis Saha followed late on for raising his hand to a defender, but the Frenchman was hard done by as he barely made contact with AEK defender Juanfran who made a meal of it.
Jack Rodwell and Tim Cahill took command of the Everton midfield, with Pienaar playing well down the right and Jo lively up front, the visitors’ make shift defence wasn’t good enough on night.
Overall a good performance for Everton, perhaps dampened when Saha received his marching orders in stoppage time, but manager David Moyes will still have been pleased to have started the campaign in a promising way.
10′ [1 - 0] J. Yobo
17′ [2 - 0] S. Distin
37′ [3 - 0] S. Pienaar
82′ [4 - 0] Jo
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