Europa League/AEK Athens 0 Everton 1:DINIYAR BILYALETDINOV'S early goal was enough to give Everton a vital victory over AEK Athens which sealed a place in the last 32 for David Moyes' team.
Bilyaletdinov raced on to Jo’s through-ball to slot past AEK goalkeeper Sebastian Saja with aplomb after just six minutes, and the Russian midfielder’s goal proved the difference on a rain-soaked evening at the Olympic Stadium in Athens.
The result, combined with Group leaders Benfica’s 2-1 win over BATE Borisov, means Everton have qualified for the knockout stage as section runners-up with a game to spare. It remains to be seen at what cost Everton’s return to winning ways after just one win in 11 previous games has come at, however, as defenders Dan Gosling and Sylvain Distin, along with Jo, were all forced off due to injuries.
The game was played in difficult conditions, following a heavy downpour just before kick-off. The visitors, featuring a makeshift central defensive pairing of Distin and Tony Hibbert – who equalled Everton’s European appearance record of 19 matches previously held by Colin Harvey and Brian Labone – opened the scoring with their first shot on target in the sixth minute when Bilyaletdinov lashed the ball past Saja.
It was becoming a backs-to-the-wall affair for Everton as the hosts threw everything at them, and Tim Howard had Jose Baxter to thank after the substitute cleared off the line with 14 minutes left. But the visitors held firm under intense pressure in the closing stages to secure the win.
AEK ATHENS: Saja, Georgeas, Geraldo, Majstorovic, Juanfran, Hersi, Kafes, Makos (Manduca 30), Leonardo (Scocco 46), Taxtsidis, Pavlis (Blanco 60). Subs not used: Arampatzis, Araujo, Karabelas, Gentsoglou. Booked: Geraldo.
EVERTON: Howard, Gosling (Baxter 10), Hibbert, Distin (Duffy 18), Baines, Pienaar, Coleman, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Jo (Yakubu 73). Subs not used: Nash, Saha, Agard, Mustafi. Booked: Hibbert, Cahill, Howard, Bilyaletdinov, Baxter.
Referee: Claudio Circhetta (Switzerland).
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