BATE Borisov 1-2 Everton
Cahill scored the winner as Everton came from behind to win in Minsk
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By Darren Plant. |  |
Thursday, 01, Oct 2009 07:54
By Matt Hallam.
Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill scored as Everton came from a goal down to beat BATE Borisov 2-1 in the Uefa Europa League.
Everton were second best for much of a match which the Belarusian champions dominated with incisive attacking play, but came away with an impressive win after scoring two goals in nine second-half minutes.
BATE took the lead through Dmitri Likhtarovich's unstoppable strike in the first half. However, Everton found a way back into the game when poor marking allowed Fellaini to head in an equaliser and Cahill scored the winner with 12 minutes remaining.
David Moyes arrived in Minsk without a host of regular starters and was forced into a further change when Joseph Yobo was ruled out late on with a thigh injury. Dan Gosling replaced Yobo with Tony Hibbert moving into the centre of defence. Yakubu continued his recovery from injury as he partnered Jo upfront with Louis Saha suspended after his sending off against AEK Athens.
BATE played in the Champions League last season and their quality was immediately apparent as they monopolised possession in the opening stages.
Dimitar Bilyaletdinov almost put Everton in the lead against the run of play when his shot from a tight angle crashed off the post, but it was BATE who took the lead through Likhtarovich's stunning strike.
Tim Cahill blocked a cross as BATE attacked down the left, but when his clearance fell to Likhtarovich the midfielder smashed the ball past a helpless Tim Howard from 35-yards.
Cahill had an excellent chance to equalise when he found space on the left of the BATE penalty area but he scuffed his shot which was deflected wide.
Moyes' team struggled to find any fluency as half-time approached with BATE continuing to look dangerous, especially down Everton's right where the inexperienced Gosling struggled to cope with Vitlay Rodionov.
BATE threatened early after the break with a slick passing move almost sending Igor Stasevich through, however Hibbert - coping valiantly as he played out of position - slid in to intercept and avert the danger.
Everton continued to look laboured in attack with Jo struggling to put any power on headers from weak crosses. However calamitous defending from BATE allowed the Toffees to equalise.
Baines floated in a cross from the left and finding himself in acres of space, Fellaini nodded in from 5-yards out.
Having equalised, Moyes' men rallied and took the lead minutes later through Cahill. Baines was the supplier again, sending in a cross from the left which was flicked on by Bilyaletdinov and met by Cahill who lifted the ball over Sergey Veremko.
BATE came close to equalising in the final minutes as Alexander Yurevich cut in from the right but his shot drifted wide and Everton held on for an impressive away win.