His best moment came on 15 minutes when, having been found by a Leighton Baines pass inside the area, the forward cleverly turned Luisao but fired his shot over while under pressure from the Benfica centre-back.
Yakubu’s enthusiasm overstepped the mark shortly afterwards when catching Ramires on the shin with his studs, an ugly if unintentional foul that some referees, particularly in European competition, would have deemed a red-card offence.
During a scrappy opening period, a cautious Everton created greater clear openings than in Portugal, Marouane Fellaini striking an early sighter down the throat of Benfica goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
Midway through the half, a poor Javi Garcia clearance from Bilyaletdinov’s cross fell inviting for Baines, but the left-back’s effort was blocked by Luisao.
And Cahill will feel he should have done better when getting between two defenders to meet another Bilyaletdinov cross but heading straight at Cesar from eight yards.
While Everton never allowed Benfica the chance to replicate the free-flowing possession football of two weeks ago, the visitors nevertheless remained threatening going forward.
Angel Di Maria, Everton’s chief tormentor at the Estadio da Luz, struck acrobatically at Howard and, after Sylvain Distin cleared off the toes of Cardozo, Joseph Yobo blocked the goalbound follow- up from Ramires.
Benfica came closer still four minutes before the interval, a Fabio Coentrao cross headed against the post by Cardozo and Howard brilliantly saving from Saviola on the rebound.
Eusebio, the Benfica legend, was guest of honour at the ground where he scored four goals for Portugal against North Korea in the 1966 World Cup.
And the game was crying out for just a hint of the guile and ingenuity for which the football great was renowned.
It was Benfica that provided it, beginning 11 minutes into the second half when a sublime pass from Cardozo sent Di Maria racing clear. Thankfully for Everton, the Argentine winger blasted horribly over from 18 yards.
Di Maria was considerably more impressive when unleashing a blistering 25-yard angled drive that brought the best out of Howard.
And the Argentine was inevitably involved as Benfica went ahead on 63 minutes, Di Maria and Saviola passing their way through a retreating Everton defence before the latter struck into the bottom corner beyond Howard from 12 yards.
The lead was doubled 13 minutes later, albeit with a touch of controversy. Again Saviola was allowed to waltz his way into the Everton area, the ball eventually breaking to Ruben Amorim whose shot deflected into the path of Cardozo to supply a clever finish.
The home side argued the goalscorer was offside, a view that was backed up by television replays.
A brilliant save from Cesar denied Distin a late consolation, while young substitute Kieran Agard headed wide.
The travelling Benfica fans who sang ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ during the closing moments just rubbed salt into the gaping wound for Moyes and his players.
