Lukaku scores late penalty to give Everton win over Dynamo Kiev

Romelu Lukaku scored his seventh goal in European competition this season to give Everton a slender 2-1 lead after the first leg of their Europa League tie against Dynamo Kiev at Goodison Park.

The Toffees started the contest at Goodison Park poorly and fell behind in the 14th minute to an Oleg Gusev finish, but they improved markedly as the first half went on and equalised in the 39th as Lukaku's strength allowed him to set up a Steven Naismith strike.

Roberto Martinez's side did their best to sustain the momentum after the break, but it looked as if they would be frustrated in their attempts to add another goal.

However, a handball from Danilo Silva eight minutes from time saw referee Carlos Velasco Carballo award a spot-kick which Lukaku converted, making him Everton's all-time record European scorer with seven goals and sealing the advantage in the tie for his side.

Martinez's men have been struggling in the Barclays Premier League this term but they continue to impress in continental action and will fancy their chances of emerging from next week's second leg in Kiev with a quarter-final place booked.

14’ – GOAL! – Yarmolenko swings in the corner from the right wing and Gusev nips in at the near post to flick in past a surprised Howard.

33’ – CHANCE! – Everton break and loft one over the top. The goalkeeper comes rushing well out of his area but messes up his clearance and the ball drops to Lukaku. He controls and tries to lob the goalkeeper who is well out of his goal but gets it all wrong and the ball flies wide.

38’ – CHANCE! – The corner comes in to the far post where Jagielka is on hand to head towards the far post but Danilo Silva is just there to head it off the line.

39’- GOAL! – Lukaku receives the ball on the turn, around 40 yards out. He muscles off one defender, rides two tackles using his strength before laying in Naismith into the area who curls the ball coolly into the bottom corner.

54’ – CHANCE! – Barkley crosses to Naismith who gets his head on the ball but can only glance it to Lukaku at the far post who has no time to control and finish as it bounces off him and the keeper can gather.

67’ – CHANCE! – Naismith touches the ball into Barry who is free centrally in the penalty area but the ball is under his feet and he can’t dig out an accurate shot so the ball floats wide.

82’ – PENALTY AND GOAL! – Osman crosses onto Danilo Silva whose outstretched arm blocks the ball and the ref points to the spot. Lukaku stepped up nervously but slotted home down the middle to give Everton the lead.

Everton have lost just once in their last eight European games compared to four defeats in their last eight in domestic competition

Kiev have scored in each of their last ten games after tonight and have kept clean sheets in five of those matches

Romelu Lukaku is now Everton’s all-time top scorer in Europe with seven goals

Everton had only ever played Ukrainian opposition once in their history, beating Metalist Kharkiv over two legs in the 2007/08 UEFA Cup

This is Dynamo Kiev’s first defeat this season as they had gone 16 games unbeaten until tonight

Yarmolenko has six assists in the Europa League this season, more than any other player

Lukaku has been involved in nine goals in his eight Europa League appearances this season scoring seven and getting two assists

Can Everton get past Kiev and go all the way in the Europa League? It seems the Toffees are saving their best form for Europe and it showed again tonight. They certainly have the style to play in Europe but the questions will need answering when the games come thicker and faster in a few weeks’ time. In Romelu Lukaku they have a striker who can cause any defence in Europe a torrid time.

Romelu Lukaku – He started slowly but as soon as he got going he became unplayable. The big Belgian bullied every player that came near him once he found his stride. His assist was top class holding off three defenders and his penalty took immense steel to finish so coolly.

Everton – Howard 7, Coleman 7, Jagielka 7, Alcaraz 6, Garbutt 7, McCarthy 8, Barry 7, Mirallas 6, Barkley 6, Naismith 8, Lukaku 9. Subs – Kone 6, Osman 7.

Dynamo Kiev – Shovkovskiy 6, Danilo Silva 6, Veloso 7, Antunes 7, Dragovic 8, Yarmolenko 7, Sydorchuk 7, Gusev 8, Vida 7, Buyalskiy 6, Mbokani 6. Subs – Garmash 6, Kravets 6, Chumak 6.