SOCCER/Uefa Cup Group stage/Nurnberg 0 Everton 2:Southern Germany proved a fertile breeding ground for English clubs in Europe last night as Everton secured their place at the summit of Group A with a late victory over Nurnberg.
David Moyes' team had appeared set for the second creditable draw in the region, following on from Bolton's outstanding result in Munich, until the 82nd minute when Mikel Arteta struck from the penalty spot.
The decision was irrefutable, coming when Glauber hauled substitute Victor Anichebe to the floor and so was the Spaniard's spot-kick, sending Nurnberg keeper Jaromir Blazek the wrong way and Everton above Zenit St Petersburg in the table.
Seven minutes later Anichebe delivered his own solo strike and the knock-out stages now surely beckon for a team that is learning fast in Europe this season.
Nurnberg had not won a European home tie since 1963, while their Bundesliga campaign has produced just two victories thus far, and Everton so nearly compounded the insecurities of their hosts by threatening a lead after only 24 seconds.
The tone for a productive night down the German left was established from kick-off when Leon Osman released Mikel Arteta and the Spaniard's fierce drive was pushed into the air by Blazek. Ever alert to opportunity inside the area, Tim Cahill stretched for the rebound at the far post but Blazek touched the midfielder's shot on to his post and the home side found the reprieve their fragile confidence needed.
Oddly, each near miss brought sections of the home stands to their feet in frustration. Odder still, most had Scouse accents. Officially 2,500 Evertonians were inside the stadium but despite Uefa ordering Nurnberg to cancel tickets they had sold direct to 1,500 people with English addresses, thousands more gained entry regardless.
Nurnberg rallied from their ponderous start and fashioned the clearer chances as the contest wore on. Tim Howard beat away two angled drives from Dominik Reinhardt, smothered well from Ivan Saenko and foiled Marek Mintal at the start of the second half, while Peer Kluge squandered a glorious chance late on.
Moyes was delighted with the success of the gamble he took when he sent on forward Anichebe.
Everton were struggling to break the Germans down but managed to do so twice in the final eight minutes, after Moyes had decided it was time to send on Anichebe - despite the young striker's broken hand.
"What a way to finish! Victor came on and made such an impact," said a triumphant Moyes. "I was worried about putting him on, because he has a broken hand - but what do I know?
"I thought it was a good performance. For long periods, we did well enough."
Moyes made one change from the team that defeated Birmingham 3-1 in the Premier League last weekend.
Alan Stubbs was missing with a hamstring injury, so Joleon Lescott took his place in central defence and Nuno Valente started at left-back.
Andrew Johnson (ankle) and James Vaughan (thigh) had not travelled to Nurnberg, who were forced to replace the injured attacking duo of Angelos Charisteas (ankle) and Robert Vittek (knee).
NURNBERG: Blazek, Schmidt (Kennedy 76), Glauber (Benko 86), Wolf, Reinhardt, Galasek, Kluge, Mnari, Mintal, Misimovic, Saenko (Pagenburg 85). Subs Not Used: Klewer, Beauchamp, Kristiansen, Engelhardt. Booked: Blazek, Glauber.
EVERTON: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Nuno Valente, Arteta, Carsley, Cahill (Jagielka 90), Osman, Pienaar (Hibbert 90), Yakubu (Anichebe 75). Subs Not Used: Wessels, Gravesen, McFadden, Vidarsson. Booked: Nuno Valente, Yobo. Goals: Arteta 83 pen, Anichebe 88.
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain).
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