EVERTON'S Europa League chances remain very much in the balance despite victory over Sporting Lisbon.
Goals from Steven Pienaar and Sylvain Distin appeared to have given David Moyes's side a significant step into the next round.
But a penalty three minutes from time from Miguel Veloso earned the Portuguese visitors a precious away goal in the first leg of this round of 32 tie.
Distin was sent off in conceding the late spot kick and is now suspended for the return leg in Lisbon on Thursday week..
And Everton can expect a serious examination of their European credentials after shooting themselves in the foot here.
This was so very nearly a much-needed tonic for Moyes after the news earlier in the day that Marouane Fellaini could be missing for as long as six months with ruptured ankle ligaments.
With Philippe Senderos nursing a sore back and John Heitinga ineligible, centre-back Joseph Yobo made his first appearance since aggravating a hamstring problem against Tottenham Hotspur in early December.
But it was Everton's other returning player that made the decisive contribution of the first half, Steven Pienaar, having served a one-match ban for his derby dismissal, scoring the opener 10 minutes before the interval.
And it was some goal. 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 had been watching when Real Madrid's Guti laid on a goal for Karim Benzema in similar fashion earlier this month.
It was a merited reward for Everton's positive approach during a surprisingly lively opening 45 minutes.
Moyes's men 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. A Baines corner was glanced wide by Cahill and a free-kick 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 some 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.
