EUROPA LEAGUE/Sporting Lisbon 3 Everton 0:WHEN A summary of Everton's season is made, you will find Lisbon running through its heart. Victories against Chelsea and Manchester United were supposed to have emphasised the transformation of David Moyes' side from the shambles that suffered their heaviest European defeat at Benfica in October.

However, when Pedro Mendes’ shot crashed into the Everton net, one of football’s strangest sequences was maintained.Beginning with Manchester United in the 1964 Cup Winners Cup, Sporting Lisbon have met English opposition seven times in knockout contests and won through on each occasion.

Everton have invested plenty in the Europa League and four months ago in the same city Moyes had sat embarrassed in the Estadio da Luz as Benfica bewitched and bewildered a desperately inexperienced defence.

Philippe Senderos, with his dodgy back, was preferable to a man whose last competitive game had been last April. Joseph Yobo, who only arrived in Portugal late because of visa problems, stood alongside him.

But for a stunning save from Tim Howard from Moutinho Sporting would have taken the lead.

But the wait would endure only for another four minutes as Miguel Veloso burst into the left side of the Everton area and beat Howard at his near post.

Then, in injury time, the substitute Matias Fernandez caught Everton short at the back and completed the rout.

SPORTING: Rui Patricio, Abel, Daniel Carrico, Tonel, Grimi, Izmailov, Joao Moutinho, Mendes, Veloso, Djalo, Liedson. Subs: Tiago, Anderson Polga, Adrien Silva, Carlos Saleiro, Vukcevic, Fernandez, Bruno Pereirinha.

EVERTON: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Senderos, Baines, Osman, Arteta, Pienaar, Bilyaletdinov, Saha, Donovan. Subs: Nash, Jagielka, Gosling, Yakubu, Rodwell, Anichebe, Coleman.

Referee: Alon Yefet (Israel)