David Moyes named a fairly strong side, as promised, with only Fernandes rested, merited by his poor displays since rejoining the Blues, as Everton hit a poor SK Brann side for six. Everton’s initial plays were cautious and defensive, with Brann having most of the possession and actually getting some shots off, while Everton sat back and soaked up the pressure.  There was a call for handball against Lescott in the area but it was really more a case of ball-to-hand.

The first goal, when it finally came, was well worth waiting for. Some excellent work by Valente and Pienaar maintained Everton possession down the left channel and there was some exquisite interchange passing and excellent positional play before a lovely side-flick from Cahill laid it on a plate for a superb curing shot from Yakubu bulged the net.  

Although it actually made little difference to the task Brann had before them ó they still needed to score 3 goals ó the strike was the perfect tonic for a cautious Blues side that now settled down and it was not long before the second goal came, Johnson pulling wide right and then hitting a shot across the keeper and just strong enough to spin in at the far post off his fingertips. 

With Everton sitting pretty, David Moyes took early action, swapping Cahill and Carsley for Fernandes and Hibbert, with Neville moving into midfield.  And it was only a matter of seconds before Johnson scampered after a great ball from Neville, but his placed strike smacked off the far post.  At the other end Helstad headed over when he could have threatened the Everton goal.

Everton swept forward again for the third goal, Pienaar picking out Yakubu as Johnson pulled three defenders off to the left, opening up space from which Yakubu could convert with class.  Nice!

The gloss was taken off somewhat by a really silly goal given up by really poor shot-stopping from Howard, who watched a daisy-cutter off a distant free-kick from Vaagan Moen bounce its way harmlessly into the net over his arm. Why didn’t he get his body behind the line of the strike?

Fenandes picked up a stupid yellow card, throwing the ball to/at Bakke, who turned his back. Helstad got free and ran at the Everton goal after Fernandes gave the ball away cheaply, but the shot was just wide of the post.  But more good passing outside the area saw Yakubu then Pienaar set up Arteta whose shot was deflected wickedly into the opposite side of the net.  They all count!

The icing on the cake was still to come, with more brilliant set-up work from Arteta and Pienaar setting up Yakubu who could not miss from 3 yards out.  HAT-TRICK!!!  Just as his number came up on the subs board!!! A rapturous celebration as Anichebe came on in his place. Only the third Everton hat-trick in Europe, following in the great footsteps of Alan Ball and Andy Gray.

More good play in the last 10 mins gave Pienaar the chance to shoot from distance but a slight bobble meant it went just over instead of under the bar.  Pienaar then hit the post after great work by Anichebe down the right. At the other end, what looked a certain second goal for Brann was blasted onto the post by Vaagan Moen.

In injury time, an unbelievable strike by Johnson was the best of the night, his fierce shot from distance off a pass from Pienaar curling away wickedly and into the roof of the net.  A splendid finish to a splendid European night at Goodison: 8-1 on aggregate, and Fiorentina to look forward to in the Round of 16…