Everton 0-2 Benfica: Toffees come unstuck as slump continues

Goals from Javier Saviola and Oscar Cardoza saw Everton's Europa League hopes suffer a setback at Goodison Park.

Benfica completed the double in Group I thanks to a rousing second half performance to cement their place at the top.

Saviola opened the scoring in the 63rd minute and Cardozo made the points safe eight minutes later.

Everton manager David Moyes made two changes for this vital Europa League against Benfica at Goodison Park.

With John Heitinga and Lucas Neill ineligible, Tony Hibbert and Dan Gosling returned to the side for this Group I game.

Hibbert had recovered from a bout of flu which caused him to miss the Barclays Premier League draw against Aston Villa on Sunday.

Everton were hoping to improve their chances of qualifying for the next stage of the competition and get back on track in Europe after losing 5-0 in Lisbon.

Portugal and Benfica legend Eusebio was guest of honour at the match and introduced to the crowd before the game.

He was hoping to see his club turn around a poor run of form away in Europe - they have not won in seven matches on the road.

Everton were quickly on the attack and Marouane Fellaini made space inside the area after four minutes only to find the body of goalkeeper Julio Cesar with his shot.

Benfica responded 10 minutes later and the highly-rated Angel Di Maria tried a snapshot from 20 yards which was comfortably saved by Tim Howard.

It was a brief respite for the visitors with Leighton Baines picking out Ayegbeni Yakubu in the 16th minute. The Nigerian striker turned quickly inside the area but sent his effort wide of the post.

Yakubu was then booked four minutes later for a stiff challenge on Ramires.

Everton stepped up the pace and Baines saw his shot blocked and Jack Rodwell hoisted the rebound over the bar.

Benfica again found themselves on the back foot in the 24th minute but managed to scramble away Yakubu's effort.

Everton came close in the 28th minute when Cesar pushed a hanging cross out wide from Yakubu over the bar.

Yakubu was getting behind the Benfica defence but was wasteful two minutes later after Sylvain Distin had delivered a good through-ball.

Di Maria then found space in area but saw his shot blocked before play switched back down the other end and Tim Cahill was denied by the goalkeeper in the 33rd minute.

Rodwell then cut inside and tried his luck on goal - only to send his effort high into the crowd.

It took Benfica until the 41st minute to show the kind of danger they posed in the home game against Everton.

Ramires got on the end of a cross from Fabio Coentrao and beat Howard with his header, only to see it come back off the post.

Javier Saviola latched on to the loose ball and hammered in a shot but the American goalkeeper made a superb block.

It was a warning shot to Everton how dangerous their opponents were on the counter-attack.

Benfica made a bright start to the second half and Saviola clipped a shot over the bar in the 49th minute before Coentrao tested Howard from distance.

Everton were finding it hard to regain the momentum and Ruben Amorim lifted a shot over the bar six minutes later.

Di Maria should have put Benfica ahead in the 56th minute when clear on goal but his shot was high and wasteful.

Four minutes later the Argentinian midfielder saw his effort tipped over the top by the alert Howard.

Benfica made the breakthrough in the 63rd minute with a swift counter attack. Di Maria was involved in the build up, resulting in a clinical finish from close range by Saviola.

Saviola then got clear again only to see his shot diverted for a corner as Everton found themselves under pressure again.

The home side were finding it difficult to string any passes together as the game entered a crucial stage.

Moyes then made a switch in the 69th minute, bringing on Jo to support Yakubu in attack with Gosling going off.

Benfica made it 2-0 in the 75th minute when Oscar Cardozo rattled home a volley from an acute angle after Hibbert failed to close him down.

It was no more than the Portuguese side deserved and their second half performance was similar to that in Lison when they carved Everton apart.

Distin almost pulled a goal back in the 88th minute but his header was turned away superbly by Cesar.