Everton posted a 3-1 win over Greek challengers Larissa at Goodison Park on Thursday night to begin their UEFA Cup group stage on a high note.

Tim Howard made three saves for the victors, but was also culpable on the visitor's lone strike.

Larissa, who knocked Blackburn out in the first round, showed early initiative, but it was Everton that took the lead on 14 minutes. A short corner was played to Leon Osman, who cut to the end line before picking out injury returnee Tim Cahill for a doorstep header.

James McFadden could have doubled the lead seven minutes later, but was unable to get much on a Cahill cutback from close range.

Near the break, Joleon Lescott volleyed wide on the slide from a Mikel Arteta long restart and Cahill saw a long try pushed around frame seconds later.

McFadden failed at an early second half breakaway chance, but five minute out of intermission, the Toffees finally gained a deserved cushion as Steven Pienaar flicked a Leighton Baines cross on for Osman to convert from just outside the area.

In the 65th minute, Howard threw out to an under pressure Lescott, who was picked clean by Cleyton. The Brazilian glided in alone to slot past the US keeper and close the gap.

Larissa were unable to conjure an equalizing move, and sub Victor Anichebe bagged a late insurance tally with a cool run-and-finish.

Scoring
EVE - Tim Cahill 1 (Leon Osman) 14'
EVE - Leon Osman 1 (Steven Pienaar) 50'
LAR - Cleyton 3 65'
EVE - Victor Anichebe 2 85'

Line-ups
EVE - Tim Howard; Tony Hibbert, Joseph Yobo, Jolean Lescott, Leighton Baines, Steven Pienaar (Alan Stubbs 87'), Leon Osman, Lee Carsley, Tim Cahill (Thomas Gravesen 65'), Mikel Arteta, James McFadden (Victor Anichebe 65')

LAR - Stefanos Kotsolis; Georgios Galitsios, Marco Foerster (Anastasios Venetis 79'), Nikos Dabizas, Stylianos Venetidis, Cleyton, Georgios Fotakis, Ilias Kiriakidis (Andreas Labropoulos 75'), Marcelo Sarmiento, Facundo Parra (Christos Kalantzis 58'), Ibrahima Bakayoko

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