Nurnberg	0 - 2	Everton
Booked Glauber 82 Blazek 82	Half Time ( 0 - 0 )	Scorers Arteta (pen) 83 Anichebe 88  Booked Nuno Valente 64 Yobo 87

Two late goals gave Everton victory in Germany as they kept their place at the top of the group and now look certain for qualification. They have substitute Victor Anichebe to thank for having a hand in both goals after dominating the game but failing to secure the win earlier on.

The visitors could’ve taken the lead inside 30 seconds when Nurnberg goalkeeper Jaromir Blazek first saved from Mikel Arteta and then push Tim Cahill’s follow-up shot on to the post.

The hosts were then given a decent chance to open the scoring when Joleon Lescott conceded possession to Ivan Saenko and the striker raced through on goal, only to be denied by the advancing Howard to save his defender’s blushes.

Nurnberg were spared after 16 minutes when Tim Cahill wasn’t able to covert Leon Osman’s cross from the right as the game became more exciting, with both teams looking menacing.

The Germans did create some of their own chances but were comfortably second-best for most of the night. While the likes of Arteta and Cahill were pushing for goals up front, it was some defensive lapses at the back which could’ve see Everton fall behind. Both Peer Kluge and Dominik Reinhardt went close for the hosts as they looked to take an unlikely lead. Kluge rifled his shot wide while Steven Pienaar gave the ball away to Reinhardt and he saw his effort saved at full stretch by Tim Howard.

Four minutes before half-time, Yakubu was unable to apply the finishing touch after a goalmouth scramble as Everton continued to threaten. Blazek’s weak punch from a corner fell to the Nigerian a few yards out, but he couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. And Everton eventually had to settle for a goalless first-half as the whistle blew for the interval.

Nurnberg came out for the second-half a different side to that who opened the first as they pushed forward, hoping to find the killer goal to deflate Everton’s challenge. A few minutes into the half they had their chance but Marek Mintal fired straight at Tim Howard and the keeper was forced into a good block.

From this point onwards, Everton took control and Nurnberg were forced into retreat as their recent domestic form came back to haunt them. Arteta’s swerving shot was fumbled by Blazek but he gathered it at the second attempt with no pressure from an Everton follow-up.

With a quarter of an hour left and still no goals, a frustrated David Moyes brought on Anichebe for Yakubu in the hope that the teenager would bring the game to life in the closing stages.

And that’s exactly what happened. Just seven minutes after coming on, he latched on to Arteta’s through ball and when it looked as though his pace might beat the defence, he was brought down by Leandro Glauber for a penalty. Arteta stepped up to the spot and calmly beat the goalkeeper for 1-0.

And just minutes later, Anichebe marked an important night for Everton with a goal of his own. Cutting into the box from the right wing, he beat a challenge and then scored past Blazek with a low shot from a tight angle.

The win was nothing more than Everton deserved after a solid performance away from home. They now sit happily on top of the group and must surely qualify with two games still to play.

It was a disappointing night for Nurnberg who looked second-best on their home territory. They lacked creativity and ideas and eventually lacked passion as the Toffees overran them for a comfortable victory.


Nurnberg: Blazek, Schmidt (Kennedy 76), Glauber (Benko 86), Wolf, Reinhardt, Galasek, Kluge, Mnari, Mintal, Misimovic, Saenko (Pagenburg 85).

Subs Not Used: Klewer, Beauchamp, Kristiansen, Engelhardt.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Nuno Valente, Arteta, Carsley, Cahill (Jagielka 90), Osman, Pienaar (Hibbert 90), Yakubu (Anichebe 75).

Subs Not Used: Wessels, Gravesen, McFadden, Vidarsson.

Att: 43,000

Ref: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain).

By Ben Hughes