Everton held by nine men

Metalist were already down to ten men when they equalised, defender Sewyryn Gancarczyck - a Pole - dismissed ten minutes earlier for verbally abusing Polish-speaking Austrian referee Fritz Stuchlik after he awarded the hosts a penalty, for which Oleksandrr Babych was booked after pulling down Lescott who had gone up for a free-kick.

In a bizarre two minute spell midway through the second half, Johnson stepped up to score what he thought was his first goal of the season, but his effort was ruled out for the slightest encroachment by an Everton player. The retaken spot-kick was well-saved by Oleksandr Garyainov and, ten minutes later, Moroccan sub Hicham Mahdoufi set up fellow replacement Edmar with his first action on the pitch.

Johnson thought he had the chance to redeem himself when, following several more penalty appeals, Victor Anichebe was adjudged to have been pulled down by Babych, who was promptly shown a second yellow and an early bath.

But he blazed this one well over, ironically with the presence of several yellow and blue-shirted players in the box when he struck the ball, although Stuchlik chose not to act on this occasion.

Everton, in truth, should have wrapped the win up long before any controversy, but were foiled thanks to some weak finishing and good goalkeeping. Leon Osman forced the first save from Garyainov on four minutes, shooting low from the edge of the box but not really testing the 32-year-old.

Steffan Wessels made an acrobatic stop three minutes later, tipping over a superb effort from Sergiy Valiaiev for a corner, with the match - which was delayed by half an hour due to ticketing problems - starting in typical cup tie fashion.

Impressive Serbian playmaker Marko Devic went close with a rising drive just after the quarter hour but Everton took the lead on 24 minutes when Lescott ran across the six yard box to head home a James McFadden corner for his third goal of the season.

The visitors had a good two minute spell when Devic went close himself before setting up Onyekachi Nwoha, who went down under minimal contact from Lescott, who himself should have bagged a second when he headed over in first half injury time.

Then Johnson suffered his first penalty woe, shooting his second effort low to the right but at a good height for Garyaimob to parry and then cling onto, after which Metalist regained confidence to pass and move around a fairly static three-man Everton midfield, although Anichebe forced another good stop from their keeper on 76 minutes.

Then Mahdoufi made his introduction, his first touch being to instigate a one-two with Devic before he found himself in space on the left to pick out Edmar who drilled home on the edge of the box.

Everton were dumbfounded and went all-out for a winner, Osman going close with a half volley again palmed behind by Garyaimob, while Anichebe was booked for protesting after the referee failed to award anything when he was wrestled and then kicked to the ground by Papas Gueye.

Metalist were not done, however, Mahdoufi inches away from picking out Devic for an unlikely winner before they gave away their second penalty, which Johnson duly missed to be left with his head in his hands.

McFadden and Lescott had late shots from distance saved and blocked respectively, but Everton were broken and go to the Ukraine in two weeks needing a high-scoring draw or a win to avoid the same humiliation they suffered in crashing out at the first hurdle the season before last.

The return leg in Kharkiv is on October 4th.