THEY had drawn inspiration from the heroics of Liverpool coming back to win the European Cup four months ago, but in the end Everton fell some way short of emulating their great rivals at a raucous Goodison Park last night.

It was not for a want of trying but attempting to become only the fifth team in the history of European competition — and the first for nearly 20 years — to overhaul a four-goal deficit was always going to be an enormous task, and against an obdurate Dynamo Bucharest side brimming with talent, it never quite looked possible, however valiant their efforts.

David Moyes, the Everton manager, will lament on what might have been, but the damage was done in the Romanian capital a fortnight ago, when Everton succumbed 5-1, and while a goal from Tim Cahill may have earned his side only their second victory in ten games, the reality is that the club have been dumped out of two European competitions in 51 days.

While it was no disgrace losing to Villarreal in the Champions League qualifying stages, Moyes had hoped to progress to the group stage of the Uefa Cup.

At least now, having been eliminated, he can focus on trying to resurrect Everton’s flagging season. Fifteen defeats in their past 22 games going back to last season is a worry, but this win may provide Everton with the springboard they need, even if their misery at bowing out was compounded late on when the impressive Mikel Arteta suffered a fit on the pitch after a dreadful challenge by Mihaita Plesan.

Uefa may also be obliged to investigate allegations that Gabriel Tamas spat in the face of James McFadden, the Everton forward, shortly before half-time.

Arteta spent last night in hospital, but his condition is not believed to be as bad as was first feared. “Mikel is fine, the surgeon said he had a fit on the pitch, but it looks more like a neck injury,” Moyes said. “It is an enormous relief because it was a bad challenge. I think if that had been Duncan Ferguson who had done that to a player, he might have been sent off.”

In fairness to Dynamo, Ferguson was lucky not to be sent off for an apparent elbow offence, having already been booked, but that should do nothing to take away from a positive performance by Everton.

“The players showed terrific desire, if nothing else, to win back a bit of pride,” Moyes said. “We shouldn’t have been down 5-1 in the first place, but hopefully we can take a lot from this game and if we play like we did tonight in the league then we should get a few more wins.”

The cheers that greeted the start of a frenetic first half belied the number of empty seats in the stands and Everton got the reward their early efforts deserved in the 28th minute. Ferguson knocked down Arteta’s sublime cross from the right and Cahill popped up to score his first goal of the season and only Everton’s second in five home games.

Everton continued to go forward and sent countless crosses into the box, but a second goal proved elusive. They will now hope for some better luck in the league.

EVERTON (4-4-1-1): N Martyn — T Hibbert (sub: D Weir, 24min), J Yobo, M Ferrari, N Valente (sub: M Bent, 68) — M Arteta, P Neville, T Cahill, K Kilbane (sub: J Beattie, 68) — J McFadden — D Ferguson. Substitutes not used: R Wright, L Tie, L Osman, L Wilson. Booked: Valente, McFadden, Ferguson.

DYNAMO BUCHAREST (4-3-2-1): U Hayeu — G Galamaz, G Tamas, C Moti, C Pulhac — F Petre, A Margaritescu, M Plesan — I Zicu (sub: A Baltoi, 75), S Grigorie — F Bratu (sub: O Chihaia, 84). Substitutes not used: M Daouda, L Goian, A Cristea, V Munteanu, F Matache. Booked: Bratu, Plesan.

Referee: L Duhamel (France).

Giants fall at first hurdle

BAYER Leverkusen, Feyenoord and Galatasaray, former Uefa Cup-winners, are out of this season’s competition. Leverkusen, champions in 1988, lost 1-0 away to CSKA Sofia and 2-0 on aggregate. Feyenoord, twice winners, lost 1-0 to Rapid Bucharest to go out 2-1 on aggregate, while Galatasaray, the Turkish club that beat Arsenal in the 2000 final, drew 1-1 with Tromso, but the Norwegian club advanced 2-1 on aggregate.

Matt Messias, the Premiership referee, sent off three players during a stormy finale to the tie between FC Copenhagen and SV Hamburg.

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