That confidence was evident throughout a lively first-half performance in which Pienaar's 35th-minute opener was the undoubted highlight.

Phil Neville's slide rule pass from the right flank set Cahill in behind the Sporting defence and, with goalkeeper Rui Patricio approaching, the Australian showed great awareness to backheel the ball across into the path of the incoming Pienaar, who finished into the top corner of the unguarded net.

Clearly, Cahill was watching when Real Madrid's Guti laid on a goal for Karim Benzema in similar fashion earlier this month.

Moyes's men had signalled their intent in the 12th minute, when Cahill flicked the ball in for Louis Saha only for Sporting keeper Patricio to parry the Frenchman's effort and the block Leon Osman's follow-up attempt.

Leighton Baines, a constant threat down the left, proved equally effective with his dead-ball delivery. His corner was glanced wide by Cahill before a free-kick was headed over by Saha, while the left-back's eventual shot was not as incisive as the thrilling 40-yard run that had preceded it.

There was controversy in the 19th minute when, in chasing Pienaar's throughball, Saha tumbled to the ground just outside the area with centre-back Daniel Carrico in close attendance. However, referee Darko Ceferin ruled Saha's heels had not been clipped by the defender, who would otherwise have surely been dismissed

Sporting, though, were not without their own chances, their close passing and danger on the counter-attack meaning Everton's defence had to withstand intermittent bouts of away pressure.

The visitors came close five minutes before the interval when, after Sporting's attempts to walk their way through the home defence proved futile, winger Marat Izmailov smashed the outside of Howard's left-hand post from 12 yards.

Right-back Abel's speculative 25-yard angled drive flew narrowly wide and, when a shot from Pedro Mendes was only parried by Howard, Pienaar was alert to nick the ball off Joao Moutinho as the midfielder shaped to convert the rebound.

This wasn't an evening to remember for Moutinho. A transfer target for Moyes 18 months ago, the midfielder was later booked for a cynical foul on Landon Donovan before being substituted.

By then, Everton had doubled their advantage with a simple if slightly fortuitous goal. Under pressure from Cahill, goalkeeper Patricio failed to deal with a Baines free-kick from the left and the ball struck Distin and flew in, with Sporting claiming a foul by Cahill and handball by Distin.

Everton assumed total command. Yakubu, on for Cahill, almost snatched a third with a low shot Patricio did well to parry clear, before the Nigerian's backheel created a chance for Saha to strike at the keeper.

But with Everton nervously eyeing the clock and the defence starting to edge back ever nearer to Howard, Sporting, buoyed by a double substitution, began to threaten in the final quarter.

And the visitors landed their devastating blow with just three minutes remaining. Substitute Rodwell's overhit pass to Distin caused the centre-back to lose possession to Liedson and, in his attempts to race back and win the ball, the Frenchman only succeeded in bringing the forward down for Veloso to convert from the spot.

Game on. But it shouldn't be.