02 October,2009 07:38 AM IST | | AFP
Everton resisted a valiant fightback by BATE Borisov to leave Belarus with a 2-1 win in their Europa League match day two encounter yesterday.
Lazio and Fenerbahce were among the few other teams to win away from home, the Italians beating Levski Sofia 4-0 in Bulgaria and the Turks beating FC Sherriff 1-0 in Moldova.
Elsewhere, home advantage was put to good use as FC Salzburg punched above their weight to beat tricky Spaniards Villarreal 2-0.
Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk thumped Partizan Belgrade of Serbia 4-1 at home while FC Copenhagen won 1-0 in the Danish capital against Sparta Prague.
AEK Athens, PSV Eindhoven and Werder Bremen also won at home.
Everton have been regular participants in this competition, formerly known as the UEFA Cup, in recent years but came into this year's campaign with the bit between their teeth as they battle to move up from mid-table in the Premier League.
David Moyes' side showed their mettle, however, in a match which BATE Borisov could easily had equalised, and indeed won, during a thrilling final 10 minutes in Belarus.
Everton were a goal down by the 16th minute as Dmitri Likhtarovich pounced on a loose ball 35 metres out and smashed it into the top corner past Tim Howard.
Everton equalised through Marouane Fellaini in the 68th minute and barely 10 minutes later Tim Cahill put the Merseysiders into the driving seat by somehow getting his foot to a loose ball in the penalty area to beat the BATE Borisov keeper.
Lazio have claimed only two wins from their six Serie A games so far but the Roman club were on fire in Sofia.
Brazilian midfielder Matuzalem opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and by half-time the visitors had doubled their advantage thanks to Italian striker Mauro Zarate.
Lazio scored goals in the 67th and 73 minutes through Mourad Meghni and Tommaso Rocchi.
