SOCCER: Uefa Cup SK Brann 0, Everton 2It was difficult to judge who looked the more astonished. The Norwegian stewards as a 10-year-old Evertonian leapt over an advertising hoarding to spark a mini-pitch invasion on the final whistle or the Norwegian supporters as Brann suffered a potentially calamitous result from a largely lifeless Everton display.
David Moyes simply looked sheepish when the locals asked if this was a fair scoreline. Deep down, he did not care a jot.
The business end of the season has commenced for Everton and a 2-0 triumph at the home of the Norwegian champions represented a sterling night's work for their manager. Hugely flattering it may well have been, but with a date in the last 16 against Rosenborg or Fiorentina beckoning Moyes headed home with further proof of his side's development on the European stage thanks to fine goals from Leon Osman and Uefa Cup talisman Victor Anichebe. "I wouldn't say we have made progress in this tie yet, the job is not done," insisted the Everton manager.
Pre-match odds that made Everton overwhelming favourites proved misleading. Everton made a measured start against a side in the midst of their close season, and their struggle to gain a foothold in the game promised an encouraging night ahead for the visitors. A shocking first-half performance from Moyes' side, however, soon squandered that invitation.
Of the 11 selected in a supposedly adventurous formation only Phil Jagielka, Tim Howard, the recalled Yakubu Ayegbeni and Andy Johnson performed anywhere near the level required of a team with designs on the Uefa Cup before the interval.
The rest gave the impression that they, not Brann, had been without a league game since November 4th last year. Dreadful distribution, with captain Phil Neville the chief culprit, half-hearted midfield challenges and a casual approach typified by the injury-restricted Manuel Fernandes gifted the initiative to Brann.
While Everton were dominant in terms of possession, they created next to nothing with it. A first minute snap-shot from Yakubu and an intelligent strike by Osman, clawed away by the hand of Norwegian goalkeeper Hakon Opdal, was the sum product of the visitors' first-half ingenuity. In stark contrast Brann were a potent force whenever they ventured forth.
When they did break through in first-half stoppage time, Howard having dropped Jan Solli's corner over his goalline, Brann's delight was extinguished for a clear foul on the American goalkeeper by former Leeds United midfielder Eirik Bakke.
Mercifully for Moyes' ambitions this season, he was able to conjure the transformation in attitude and application required.
Fernandes clearly took receipt of a Glaswegian rocket during half-time and brought a semblance of quality to Everton's passing, though he also remained a liability on occasion, and Tim Cahill served notice of the improvement to come with a 25-yard strike that Opdal tipped on to a post.
Osman was first to polish a difficult night's work with an exquisite volley beyond Opdal from the angle of the Brann penalty area. A rare, intricate move involving Yakubu and Johnson ended with a headed clearance from the Norwegian defence. The return from the Everton midfielder, scorching across the Brann keeper and into his bottom corner, was outstanding.
Two minutes from time, Anichebe applied the most flattering of coups de grace. Joleon Lescott delivered a superb low cross behind the Brann defence from the left and Anichebe prodded home from close range. "I couldn't have asked for a better result, it is a terrific scoreline," said Moyes. "And I think we deserve a lot of credit for coming here and beating the Norwegian champions in their own ground."
SK BRANN:Opdal, Dahl (Thwaite 88), Hanstveit, Sigurdsson, Bjarnason, El Fakiri (Huseklepp 74), Moen, Eirik Bakke, Solli, Helstad, Karadas (Demba-Nyren 68). Subs not used: Udjus, Guntveit , Misje, Winters.
EVERTON:Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Cahill, Fernandes (Hibbert 88), Carsley, Osman, Jagielka, Yakubu (Baines 90), Johnson (Anichebe 75). Subs not used: Rodwell, Wessels, Van der Meyde, Vaughan. Booked: Fernandes.
Referee:Anton Genov
