Dominant Everton brushed aside AEK Athens 4-0 and produced their best performance of the season so far, getting their Europa League group stage campaign off to a flying start.
Joseph Yobo and Sylvain Distin - his first goal for the Club - put the Blues 2-0 up with barely 15 minutes gone.
Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, making his first start since arriving from Lokomotiv Moscow, was the provider on both occasions.
Steven Pienaar's brilliant low drive to make it three was the highlight of a first half to remember for the Evertonians inside Goodison Park.
Jo scored late on after AEK went down to ten men with the result thrusting Everton to the top of Group I ahead of a trip to BATE Borisov in two weeks' time.
But they will travel to Eastern Europe without Louis Saha after he was dismissed in added time for raising his hand to Juanfran.
Sylvain Distin celebrates his first goal for Everton
The busy South African threatend early on when he saw a left foot strike palmed around the post by keeper Sebastian Saja.
And the resultant corner saw skipper Yobo rise unmarked at the far post to easily head home a tenth minute opener.
Just over five minutes later, it got even better. Uefa's experimental extra assistant referee advised the main official Mr Malek to award Everton a corner after a cross was contested and Distin eventually prodded home an untidy second to open his account for the Toffees.
It took 20 minutes for the Greeks to muster an effort on goal and when captain Pantelis Kafes did fire in a long range shot, Tim Howard wasn't troubled.
Steven Pienaar rifles in the Blues' third goal
Soon it was Everton back on the offensive though, trying to expose aerial susceptibility in the Athens back line; Jo's looping header was just over the bar mid-way through the half.
Early sub Tamandani Nsaliwala had Howard a little more concerned half an hour in with a rising drive but then another Jo header was inches wide for the dominant hosts.
AEK continued to offer very little and Pienaar took full advantage by rifling a low shot into the corner from 25 yards in the 37th minute. 3-0.
Nacho Scocco tried to hit back straight away but his free-kick was straight at Howard.
David Moyes surveys the action
With Everton coasting and after new signing Lucas Neill had been paraded to the fans, Leon Osman came on at the break for Tim Cahill and soon there was another reason to be cheerful as Yakubu emerged for the bench for an extended run-out with almost 40 minutes of the second half to play.
Soon, a bad night for AEK got worse when Carlos Araujo was sent off with 35 minutes left following a petulant kick on Distin.
After that the game was effectively over as a contest and Pienaar, Jo, Distin, Jack Rodwell and Osman could all have added to the scoreline in the second half.
There was even the chance to rest Pienaar with a quarter of the game left, Saha's introduction meaning there would be three strikers on the pitch for the final portion of the game.
The Frenchman could have put the icing on the cake late on but somehow fired over from point blank range after a typical surge to the byline from Baines.
The result was rounded off in the 82nd minute when Jo swivelled in the box and beat Saja with only the late dismissal of Saha souring the evening.
Your Comments
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Yorgos Antoniou
To Russell Livett, been 1 of the 1000 that were there singing, thank you. Everton fans gave us lessons in football civility when a couple times during the game and at the end they got up and clapped out of respect for the support we were giving our team. That would have never happen in Greece. Hope you guys pick it up in the Premier
Saturday 19th Sep 2009 03:50
paul gault
loved the aek athen fans fellaini played well yobo man of the match and cnt wait 4 hibbert heitinga or neil 2 play right bck instead of gosling he is awfull
Saturday 19th Sep 2009 00:14
Peter Day
While we got a sound thrashing, we all had an excellent party at Goodison Park. Thanks to the Everton fans being so welcoming! Come to Athens for more of the AEK atmosphere
Friday 18th Sep 2009 22:27
Conor Bunting
Really really good short interplay passing last night. Gosling looked good ,, Billy looked assured and his two corners were perfect. Rodwell spreaded the play effortlessly. Heads up to AEK fans aswell , Great Support!
Friday 18th Sep 2009 22:05
Paul Ewers
Great game on Thursday. It's hard to name a man of the match or put one person in front of another, but I have to say I will be slightly disappointed if Gosling and Rodwell are not given a start on Sunday, they we're outstanding and must be in contention for the first eleven. Rodwell ran the midfield and Gosling did his job in defence and was creative in attack! Good to see Yakubu back, not quite match fit but when he had the ball he made everyone look ordinary - We really have a World Class Striker in our team!
Friday 18th Sep 2009 21:54
Mark Bunker
Just like to say a damn good show boys, thought Billy had a very tidy 1st run out and i think he will be a splendid player, Gosling had a solid display at right back (good to know) and peanuts once again superb...keep ths up please, keep players fit and get the rest back and we could really have a team on our hands..oh Rodwell is gunna be world class at in south africa next summer
Friday 18th Sep 2009 20:52
colin dolman
IF EVERTON PLAYED LIKE THEY DID LAST NIGHT WE WOULD BE ON TOP OFF THE PREM WE PLAYED LIKE WE DID WONT TO WIN AND WIN WE DID WE LOOKED VERY SHARP AND IT WOS BRILLANT TO SEE EVERTON PLAY LIKE THAT LETS KEEP IT UP IN THE PREM LADS AND I THINK THAT SAHA SHOULD DEFINEITLY APPEAL THAT RED CARD US EVERTON FANS ARE OVER THE MOON LADS LETS KEEP IT UP .C O Y B
Friday 18th Sep 2009 19:58
Thomas Moglione
Well done the blues lets keep this going. Hope Distin can get us a couple more goals like that bloke who wore number 5 last season!. Rodwell looks comfortable on the ball and always asking for it as well, his confidence will only grow game after game. To Nick Crump - Saha wears number 8 as his birthday is the 8th August.
Friday 18th Sep 2009 18:45
paul yearsley
well done the blues and can i just say what great fans they have they were a credit to there club.
Friday 18th Sep 2009 18:07
brennan finnegan
Great performance all round. Peanuts goal, Rodwell outstanding, Billy great debut. However the most pleasing feature of last night for me was Jo puttng the ball in the net. We cant keep depending on defenders scoring and hopefully Jo will continue to hit the target. Maybe a hattrick v Blackburn
Friday 18th Sep 2009 18:06
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