Saviola (right) was superb as an attacking force for Benifica

By Paul Fletcher

Javier Saviola and Oscar Cardozo scored as Benfica deservedly defeated Everton in the Europa League.

Saviola opened the scoring with a low finish early in the second half before Cardozo finished in the bottom corner.

Cardozo appeared to be in an offside position but Benfica's attacking play was superb and earlier he hit the post and Tim Howard superbly denied Saviola.

An unmarked Sylvain Distin had a chance for Everton from six yards late in the game but was denied by Julio Cesar.

Benfica were full value for their victory, with Cardoza, Saviola and Angel Di Maria interchanging passes with great skill and understanding.

The introduction of Argentine Pablo Aimar after the break only served to illustrate the difference in options between the visiting team and injury-hit Everton.

David Moyes's team - who were thrashed 5-0 at Benfica two weeks ago - have not won in any competition since they defeated BATE on 1 October.

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But they remain second in their Europa League group and qualification remains in their own hands with two games left to play.

Everton started at a high tempo, with Diniyar Bilyaletdinov industrious on the left and Jack Rodwell impressing from his deep midfield position.

But there was a lack of composure to their play at times and the home team were guilty of wasting promising positions by looking for a killer pass too early.

They did create a few openings and Marouane Fellaini forced an early save from Cesar with a long-range strike, Leighton Baines had a shot blocked, Yakubu shot wide from a tight angle and Tim Cahill headed straight at the Benfica keeper.

But it was the away team who came closest to breaking the deadlock just before the break after an opening half of few clear openings.

A precise Fabio Coentrao cross from the left was met by Cardozo but his header hit the base of the post and rebounded towards Saviola.

The Argentine shot crisply at goal with his right foot and it took a superb reaction save from Howard to ensure the home team reached the break on level terms.

Benfica scored three goals in quick succession at the start of the second half in Portugal and almost took the lead after 57 minutes at Goodison Park.

Cardozo pierced the Everton defence with a brilliant curved through ball that sent Di Maria through on goal but he shot over from 20 yards.

Di Maria almost atoned for his miss with an audacious long-range shot from a wide position that the alert Howard tipped over his crossbar.

Benfica had started to find their range with some precise attacking football and unsurprisingly took the lead through Saviola.

The visiting team broke with a sweeping move that culminated with Saviola fortuitously gathering a ricochet off Di Maria before slotting the ball beyond Howard.

Benfica looked even more assured in possession after taking the lead, while Everton adopted an increasingly deep defensive line as they tried to nullify their opponents' attacking threat.

The match was put beyond Everton when another scintillating attack culminated with Ruben Amorim's shot deflecting into the path of Cardozo for the Paraguayan to slot the ball across Howard and into the bottom corner.

Howard appealed for offside and he had a strong case as replays suggested Cardozo was beyond the last Everton defender as Amorim shot.

Distin should have ensured a dramatic finish after a partially blocked shot fell invitingly to him but he failed to convert from six yards.

Everton manager David Moyes:
"We have tough games coming up and we knew the group was never going to be easy and it will prove that way, I am sure.

"I think Benfica are a good side and it was a tough game but it was tighter than the last one (where Benfica won 5-0).

"We became a little open in the second half, maybe trying to score, and we got done on the counter for the first goal. We still had four defenders back though, and the goals weren't like the goals in Benfica.

"One ricocheted off our player and fell to them, so I didn't think the goals were beautiful; they were poor defensive moments for us."

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