Rodwell shines as Everton cruise to victory
Rodwell hit two superb strikes in Everton's 4-0 win
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Thursday, 20, Aug 2009 10:11
By Matt Hallam
Everton look to have booked their place in the next stage of the Europa League after they cruised to a 4-0 first leg victory over Sigma Olomouc at Goodison Park.
David Moyes made two changes from the side that was thrashed 6-1 by Arsenal at the weekend. Louis Saha replaced Jo upfront and Jack Rodwell came in for the unsettled Joleon Lescott, with Phil Neville dropping back into defence.
18-year-old Rodwell was undoubtedly the star of the night, scoring two excellent goals either side of half-time, with Saha also netting a brace.
The Toffees started the game nervously and were lucky not to concede a penalty when Tim Howard clattered into Sigma's Jakub Petr in the area.
However, their nerves were settled when Marouane Fellani put a low cross in for Saha to volley in at the near post.
Everton added to their lead just six minutes later when Rodwell smashed the ball past Sigma keeper Drobisz after Leighton Baines' free kick had hit the wall.
The visitors were unlucky not to pull a goal back moments later but Michael Hubnik couldn't quite connect with Ladislav Onofrej's cross after a quick break down the left.
Everton began the second-half confidently and were rewarded after nine minutes with another spectacular strike from Rodwell. The England U-21 international lashed the ball into the top right had corner from 25 yards after Drobisz attempted to punch another free kick from Baines to safety.
Sigma offered little resistance to Moyes' team after that and they sealed the win with just less than 20 minutes to go when Saha fired in a vicious left-foot drive from just outside the box.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa lost their second game in a row, going down 1 - 0 to Rapid Vienna in Austria.
Martin O'Neill made four changes to his side from the weekend with Brad Friedel being replaced by Brad Guzan. However, Villa made the worst start possible, conceding a goal within 40 seconds of the kick-off.
Rapid's Christopher Drazan whipped in a curling cross which was headed powerfully past Guzan by Bosnian striker Nikica Jekavic.
O'Neill's side were stunned by the goal and never really recovered. Villa's best chances came in the second-half with Craig Gardener firing over and Ashley Young and James Milner supplying good crosses.
However, Rapid Keeper Helge Payer was equal to the challenge and Villa were lucky not to concede a second with Curtis Davis clearing the dangerous Guzan's shot off the line.
The return leg takes place next Thursday, when Villa will hope to return to winning ways in order to progress to the next stage of the competition.