Ye gadzooks Mr. Claypole, and just to think that I believed the UEFA Cup was a bad tournament.
Everton 4 – AEK Athens 0
Everton thumped lowly AEK Athens with two set pieces within the first 20 minutes. First, big Joseph Yobo headed in, then fellow central defender Sylvain Distin scored his first goal for the club. Steven Pienaar added the third with a long range effort before the break. Jo completed the win eight minutes from time.
CSKA Sofia 1 – Fulham 1
The improbably-named Michel Platini put the home side one up, that man Diomansy Kamara rounding the keeper for the equaliser a mere four minutes later to earn a draw for an understrength Fulham side.
Hapoel Tel Aviv 2 – Celtic 1
Big Georgios Samaras put the mighty Celtic in front with a fine finish, but the home side made much of Celtic’s dreadful European away form and came roaring back late on, Nemanja Vucicevic fired home after Boruc had kicked out a cross and two minutes from time Maharan Lala sent Bloomfield wild with the winner.
