Dinamo Bucharest 5-1 Everton

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Everton's Uefa Cup dreams lie in tatters after a heavy first round, first leg defeat to Dinamo Bucharest.

Joseph Yobo's away goal gives them slim hope, the Nigerian defender powerfully heading home a Simon Davies free-kick.

It was due reward for a solid start and cancelled out Claudiu Niculescu's own header only two minutes earlier.

But after the break Everton fell apart, Nicolescu turning provider for Ianis Zicu before Florentin Petre and a Florin Bratu brace made it a rout.

It was the first time Everton had conceded five goals in European competition and the start gave no clue to how the night would end for the visitors.

Manager David Moyes had identified this match as the one to kick-start Everton's season and his team began well, playing at a fast pace, and with Phil Neville, back after suspension, keeping things ticking over.

But despite Neville's prompting in the middle of the park, Everton were unable to produce a clear-cut goalscoring opportunity in the space they were afforded by their hosts, who struck first against the run of play.

In a rare foray forward, good work by Petre on the right culminated with a dinked chip into the centre, which Dinamo dangerman Niculescu ducked to head in under a challenge from Yobo.

It was a sloppy goal to concede, but within two minutes the visitors were gifted an equaliser.

Davies floated a free-kick from the right to the far post where Yobo was given the freedom of the six-yard box to climb high and powerfully head home.

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With the game all square again, Everton took a grip on proceedings but again, despite all their probing possession, there was no end product.

And it cost them. After the break Dinamo looked a different outfit.

In the closing stages of the first half Nigel Martyn had clawed away an effort from Zicu after the diminuitive striker had danced his way through the thin blue line of defence.

The goalkeeper had no chance when Zicu next came within his sights shortly early in the second half, cleverly stealing in at the near post to perfectly execute a volley from Niculescu's flat cross.

The goal gave Dinamo confidence and Everton's shape and style of play unravelled as they were pushed further and further back.

And two goals within the space of four minutes put Dinamo in firm control of the tie.

Captain Petre pounced on a poor clearance from Yobo to rifle home from 25 yards after 71 minutes before Bratu drilled in a piledriver from the centre of the penalty area, with the Everton rearguard in disarray.

Duncan Ferguson forced a fine late save from Vladimir Gaev before Vlad Munteanu freed Bratu to run in on goal for his second and Dinamo's fifth - more of a kick in the teeth than a kick-start.

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Dinamo Bucharest: Gaev, Goian, Tamas, Moti, Christian Pulhac, Petre (Galamaz 83), Margaritescu, Plesan (Vlad Munteanu 78), Grigorie, Zicu, Niculescu (Bratu 61).
Subs Not Used: Guso, Balan, Cristea, Baltoi.

Booked: Grigorie, Goian.

Goals: Niculescu 27, Zicu 55, Petre 71, Bratu 75, 90.

Everton: Martyn, Hibbert, Yobo, Weir, Nuno Valente, Osman, Neville, Cahill, Davies (Kilbane 73), McFadden (Ferguson 78), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Wright, Ferrari, Li Tie, Arteta, Hughes.

Booked: Cahill, McFadden.

Goals: Yobo 30.

Att: 11,500

Ref: Gianluca Paparesta (Italy).