23 October,2009 07:41 AM IST | | AFP
Everton sank to a first Europa League defeat of the season with a 5-0 loss at Benfica last night, while reigning champions Shakhtar Donetsk thrashed Toulouse and Roma rescued a draw at Fulham.
An injury-time goal earned 10-man Lazio a 2-1 win over Villarreal, Spanish heavyweights Valencia were held 1-1 at home to Slavia Prague and struggling Scottish giants Celtic went down 1-0 to Hamburg.
Everton were 1-0 behind at half-time at the Estadio da Luz after Javier Saviola volleyed the home side in front before three goals in seven minutes put the game beyond the visitors.
Paraguayan international Oscar Cardozo scored twice from close range after pin-point left-wing assists from Saviola and man-of-the-match Di Maria, before Brazil centre-back Luisao headed in the fourth.
Saviola touched home his second late on from another Di Maria assist as the hosts drew level with their opponents on six points at the Group I summit.
"I have said to the players that this is a different competition and we have had two wins and a defeat so it's not that bad," said Everton coach David Moyes after his team's worst ever defeat in European competition.
Premier League Fulham took an early lead against their Serie A opponents when Brede Hangeland headed home from a corner before Stephen Kelly was sent off after conceding a 78th-minute penalty for a foul on John Arne Riise.
The assistant official behind the goal mistakenly instructed the referee to dismiss Hangeland, but once the error had been rectified Mark Schwarzer preserved the home side's lead by brilliantly repelling Jeremy Menez's penalty kick.
