22/10/2026
EDIT....
October 22, 2009, Everton suffered their biggest ever European away defeat, which was, unfortunately, also Seamus Coleman's debut for the club where he played at left back (right), as I originally stated, sorrry!
Benfica 5-0 Everton - Di Maria masterclass inflicts record European defeat on depleted Toffees
A threadbare Everton side suffered the heaviest defeat in their European history as Angel Di Maria inspired Benfica to a 5-0 rout at the Estadio da Luz.
The Argentine winger was unplayable on the left, directly creating four goals on a night when David Moyes' injury-ravaged Blues lost their unbeaten start in Europa League Group I.
Di Maria set up Javier Saviola for the opener, teed up Oscar Cardozo twice at the start of the second half, and then provided another perfect delivery for Saviola to complete the scoring. In between, captain Luisao made it 4-0 with a free header from a Pablo Aimar corner.
For Everton - with an entire team of 11 unavailable - it was a night to forget. Benfica keeper Julio Cesar did not have a single save to make. The closest the visitors came was when substitute Louis Saha, put through by Jo, struck the outside of the post.
It was a miserable build-up for Moyes. Leighton Baines joined the casualty list ahead of kick-off, meaning nine players were out injured, plus Johnny Heitinga and Lucas Neill who were cup-tied. That left Moyes with a makeshift, inexperienced squad for Everton's first ever competitive game in Portugal in front of 7,000 travelling fans.
The warning signs were there from the start. Benfica's slick passing, with wide men Di Maria and Ramires prominent, repeatedly opened Everton up. Saviola had an early chance after good work from the pair, but was flagged offside. Moments later Luisao rose above Yakubu from a corner only to head over.
The opener was all Di Maria. Tormenting Tony Hibbert and Dan Gosling with his pace and trickery down the left, he whipped in an inch-perfect cross for compatriot Saviola, who shook off debutant Seamus Coleman to volley right-footed across Tim Howard and in.
Sylvain Distin needed a brilliant last-ditch clearance to stop Cardozo making it two before half-time. Everton's only moment of promise came when Yakubu laid the ball square to Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, whose superb left-foot volley from distance flew just over Julio Cesar's bar.
Whatever hope Everton had at the break evaporated in six chaotic minutes after the restart.
A short pass from Aimar found Di Maria, Marouane Fellaini hesitated, and his low cross was tapped in by Cardozo. A minute later, Di Maria again left the Everton defence trailing and picked out Cardozo at the far post to head home.
From another Aimar corner, Luisao was left completely unmarked to nod the fourth. It was enough for a section of the away end, who headed for the exits with 38 minutes still to play.
Moyes sent on Saha for Bilyaletdinov but chances remained scarce. Cardozo should have had a hat-trick but was denied by a fine Howard save, before Benfica got their fifth late on.
David Luiz's long diagonal found Di Maria racing clear of Hibbert once more, and his cross was once again flawless - Saviola arriving to finish.
It was a stirring display from Jorge Jesus' side, and their eight South Americans in particular, even allowing for the weakness of the opposition.
The result left both Benfica and Everton on six points at the top of Group I, with BATE Borisov and AEK Athens three points behind after BATE's win in Athens.
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