Villareal 2 Everton 1: Everton's association with the Champions League was a brief one - but they came close to taking this tie into extra-time.

With the scores level at 1-1 , Duncan Ferguson headed in an 81st-minute effort which would have squared up the aggregate scores and taken the game to extra-time - but referee Pierluigi Collina ruled it out for an infringement by Marcus Bent. It was harsh on David Moyes' men, although they needed the heroics of Nigel Martyn to keep their hopes alive.

Mikel Arteta found the target for Everton with an expertly executed free-kick - but another goal failed to materialise despite a valiant late effort.

Everton had a good chance of making the breakthrough in the 17th minute when Ferguson flicked on a long throw from Phil Neville. Tim Cahill escaped his marker but his header carried little power and was comfortably saved by Mariano Barbosa.

Just when Everton appeared to be taking control Villarreal broke away to score and extend their lead to 3-1 on aggregate. Juan Pablo Sorin raced forward and powered in a shot which took a deflection off captain David Weir to leave Martyn wrong-footed in the 20th minute.

Martyn then did well to prevent Everton going further behind with a marvellous full-length save from Diego Forlan's thunderbolt in the 24th minute.

Forlan cleverly got away from Joseph Yobo and rattled in a shot from 20 yards but Martyn was equal to it. Martyn made another impressive save in the 39th minute when he got a hand to a curling free-kick from the inspirational Juan Roman Riquelme.

There was a moment of danger for Everton in the 50th minute when Gonzalo released Forlan and he homed in on goal. However Martyn stood tall to block his effort.

The game took on a different picture in the 70th minute when Arteta pulled Everton level on the night with a stunning free-kick from 20 yards.

Everton almost drew level on aggregate in the 74th minute but Cahill's cross came back off the bar with Barbosa beaten. Barbosa then somehow managed to tip over a goalbound header from Ferguson in the 80th minute as they stepped up the pressure.

Then came the moment when Ferguson had the ball in the net - but Collina saw an infringement by Marcus Bent and disallowed the effort.

And, with Everton pushing men forward, Forlan secured Villarreal's passage in stoppage-time when he swept in Sorin's cross.

VILLARREAL: Barbosa, Rodriguez, Arruabarrena, Forlan, Josico, Riquelme, Figueroa (Tacchinardi 81), Sorin, Quique Alvarez, Javi Venta (Kromkamp 14), Senna. Subs Not Used: Lopez Vallejo, Guayre, Hector Font, Santi Cazorla, Pena. Goals: Sorin 21, Forlan 90.

EVERTON: Martyn, Hibbert, Yobo, Weir, Neville, Arteta, Davies (McFadden 79), Cahill, Kilbane (Osman 56), Bent, Ferguson. Subs Not Used: Wright, Li Tie, Hughes, Vaughan, Wilson. Booked: Kilbane, Osman. Goals: Arteta 69.

Referee: Pierluigi Collina (Italy).