Sporting Lisbon 3 - 0 Everton

Toffees come unstuck in Lisbon

Updated: February 26, 2010, 8:19 AM BST

David Moyes saw his Everton side humbled in Lisbon for the second time this season and crash out of the Europa League in the process as they were beaten 3-0 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate by Sporting.

• Moyes devastated by defeat

Holding a 2-1 advantage from the first leg and on the back of a superb victory against Manchester United, the Toffees were widely expected to complete the job in Portugal.

However, Sporting shrugged off their indifferent form to progress to the last 16 thanks to second half goals from Miguel Veloso, Pedro Mendes and substitute Matias Fernandez.

Everton were stunned just like they were last October when Benfica recorded a 5-0 victory.

Moyes was forced to field a weakened side then but most of his top players were available on this occasion.

Everton were given a chasing and goalkeeper Tim Howard was forced into action after just four minutes when Marat Izmailov cut inside.

The Russian cracked in a shot but Howard was equal to it and parried the ball to safety.

It was an early warning to Everton that Sporting were determined to turn this tie around after a string of indifferent results.

The home side had made a bright start and Liedson clipped his effort wide of the post in the 13th minute.

Sporting came within a whisker of taking the lead on the night when Phillipe Senderos, on loan from Arsenal, barged over Yannick Djalo on the edge of the area.

Skipper Joao Moutinho stepped forward and sent a sweet free-kick over Howard but saw his effort come back off the bar.

Liedson latched on to the rebound but snatched at his effort and it went wide.

This was a difficult spell for Moyes' side who went into the match on a superb run of form after losing only two of their last 13 games in all competitions.

Then Veloso sent a shot into Howard's body as Sporting maintained the momentum.

Everton woke out of their slumber a minute before half-time when Senderos found the net after getting on the end of a free-kick from Leighton Baines.

But Senderos' effort from inside the area was ruled out for offside as the player raised his arm in celebration.

Senderos needed treatment three minutes into the second half after taking a knock in a challenge.

He looked in some difficulty following his back problem and Djalo strode forward in the 51st minute and sent a shot narrowly over the bar.

Senderos came off a minute later and was replaced by Phil Jagielka, making his first appearance since April.

Given the pressure Everton had been under it was a test of character for Jagielka, following his recovery from a knee ligament injury.

He was drafted in without any reserve matches under his belt. He had been scheduled for a game on Tuesday but it was postponed.

Sporting stepped up the pace and Howard did well to turn away a close range shot from Izmailov in the 58th minute.

Then the goalkeeper showed even better reflexes to turn over a rasping drive from Veloso.

Everton responded and Steven Pienaar saw his effort go narrowly over the bar before Sporting made the breakthrough.

Veloso got clear inside the six yard area and from an acute angle drove a shot beyond Howard and into the corner.

Sporting went ahead on aggregate in the 76th minute through former Rangers midfielder Mendes.

He got on the end of a cutback from Izmailov to find the corner with his effort, although it appeared to take a deflection off substitute Jack Rodwell.

Fernandez then added a third in stoppage-time with a superb run and finish to complete a night of misery for Everton.

Moyes devastated by defeat

Everton manager David Moyes was left stunned as his high-flying side tumbled out of the Europa League.

Moyes said: "We never got started. Credit to Sporting, they were the better team tonight and deserved to go through. We felt confident but maybe we made mistakes in the first game which let them in. They took their opportunities.

"I didn't see this result coming. We didn't play to the levels we have in recent weeks. They worked very hard and ran very hard all night. The idea was to go and get a goal. But we found it difficult. We knew the opening 20 minutes would be tough. But we never made anything happen.''

Everton suffered another injury setback with centre half Phillipe Senderos limping off in the second half. He was replaced by Phil Jagielka, making his first appearance since April.

Moyes said: "We do not think it is too serious regarding Senderos but we are not sure. It was good to have Jagielka back and he will help us towards the end of the season.''

Everton still have an outside chance of making the Europa League but Moyes added: "We will do our best. It is a long shot at the moment. But will try to do that again.''

Former Rangers midfielder Mendes was thrilled to see his side progress and they will meet Atletico Madrid in the next round.

"We needed this win,'' he told Five. "We wanted to progress in this competition. I think we performed really well in the first leg, we were unlucky with the result. Today we did what the gaffer asked - patience.

"We knew we couldn't concede or it would be very tough for us. We've been a little unlucky (recently). It's exactly the same in the league here - we've been struggling for results. We needed this performance today.''