Uefa Cup First round, second leg; Metalist Kharkiv 2 Everton 3: Until last month few Everton players or fans would have been able to pinpoint Kharkiv on a map of eastern Europe, but it will be a long time before anyone belonging to the blue half of Merseyside forgets this industrial city in northern Ukraine.
The substitute Victor Anichebe made sure of Everton's progress here with a goal two minutes from time, but for a while David Moyes's side looked as if they could be heading out.
The unknown and unsung players of Metalist initially sliced through Moyes's team before the visitors reversed matters in the second half. This was a fabulously thrilling game during which Everton looked at one time well beaten. But ultimately they galvanised themselves to secure a gutsy victory which leaves them in next Tuesday's draw for the lucrative group stages and could yet serve as a springboard for a successful season.
Edmar gave Metalist an early lead after capitalising on poor positional play on the part of both Phil Neville and Joseph Yobo, the Brazilian slipped a low shot past the advancing Tim Howard.
Metalist's highly fluid formation featured three central defenders behind a constantly interchanging midfield whose members delighted in confounding Everton courtesy of numerous late dashes into the box. This proved confusing for David Moyes's men and Mikel Arteta, the visitors' supposed creator, was rendered anonymous for prolonged periods.
Although Leon Osman should really have scored with a header from a cross by the South African Steven Pienaar, Everton were perhaps missing the change of pace frequently offered by Andrew Johnson, while Ayegbeni Yakubu was facing a tough duel with the Senegalese Papa Gueye.
The Ukrainian's wonderful passing and movement were making Everton appear worryingly pedestrian. Moyes's half-time homily seemed to work. Everton swiftly equalising when Joleon Lescott advanced from left back to elude Oleksandr Goryainov courtesy of a left foot finish on the rebound after Pienaar's original shot was blocked.
Unfortunately for Everton, another rebound quickly led to another Metalist goal. This time, Olexandr Rykun's viciously curling shot at the end of an impressive counter attack, ricocheted back off the inside of a post, falling fortuitously for Hicham Mahdoufi to lash his side's second goal past Howard.
Moyes was out of his area trying to gee his under-performing team up. Certainly Metalist were playing all the football and inspired by a raucous crowd. Moyes switched things around in the 63rd minute bringing on Anichebe for Phil Jagielka. It was a brave move. He gave support to McFadden and Yakubu with Everton desperate for a second goal.
McFadden almost got it in the 69th minute but the goalkeeper made a brave block, and three minutes later the Scotsman did score the equaliser, swivelling to fire left-footed past the goalkeeper from the edge of the area.
A draw would have been enough to send Everton through on away goals, but two minutes from time the substitute Anichebe made sure by scoring the winner.
Bolton also reached the group stages when they beat Macedonian side Rabotnicki Kometal 1-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate after Nicolas Anelka rose high to head home.
Tottenham's Robbie Keane saved Martin Jol from an embarrassing defeat with an equaliser against Anorthosis Famagusta as they booked their place in the group stages in unconvincing fashion in Cyprus. Spurs, however, had a comfortable 7-2 win on aggregate.
Guardian Service
FC METALIST KHARKIV:Goryainov, Bordiyan, Mdrakovic, Guie, Mahdoufi, Valiaev, Edmar, Rykun, Devic, Jakobia, Slysur. Subs: Thumak, Nwoha, Davydov, Svitlychny, Danilav, Zeze, Kostyuk.
EVERTON:Howard, Neville, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott, Pienaar, Jagielka, Osman, Arteta, McFadden, Yakubu. Subs: Wessels, Hibbert, Baines, Nuno Valente, Carsley, Anichebe, Jutkiewicz.
Referee: Jouni Hyytia (Finland)
