Everton were missing 11 first-team players and it showed as the Portuguese side took them apart

David Moyes saw his depleted Everton side spectacularly dismantled in the space of five second-half minutes at the Estádio da Luz tonight.

Any hopes of a recovery in this Europa League Group I match – after Javier Saviola had opened the scoring – vanished as Oscar Cardozo scored twice and Luisão added to the gains to put Benfica on the road to an emphatic victory.

Saviola added a fifth goal, and despite the absence of 11 players, Everton’s manager Moyes must have been left bewildered at the way his side caved in. In the process, Everton suffered their first defeat in the competition and their first in eight games in all competitions.

Moyes was forced to field two youngsters at full-back, with Seamus Coleman making his debut on the left and Dan Gosling on the right.

Everton were always chasing the game, and Luisão should have put Benfica ahead in the fifth minute when he headed wide following a corner from Pablo Aimar.

The home side made the breakthrough in the 14th minute with a superb half-volley from Saviola after a crossfield pass from Angel Di María split the defence. Benfica were winning the majority of possession, but Di María saw his effort in front of goal turned away by an alert Sylvain Distin.

Everton pushed upfield in the 31st minute, but Marouane Fellaini headed wide following a corner from Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.

Back came Benfica, and Nascimento Ramires headed across the face of the goal – with Di María supplying the delivery.

Everton, though, were gradually beginning to threaten and Bilyaletdinov thumped a shot wide in the 34th minute. Then the Russian cut inside but failed to test Júlio César, sending his effort over the bar.

Benfica launched a swift counter-attack in the 39th minute, only for Ramires to find the side netting from an acute angle.

Three minutes later, Bilyaletdinov found himself clear on the right. He was showing good initiative, but his decision-making was poor as he tried his luck when there were other options – and the ball ran out of play.

Everton made a shocking start to the second half and suddenly found themselves 3-0 down. Cardozo scored both at the back post, the first with a close-range finish in the 46th minute, the second with a header 60 seconds later.

Saviola and Di María set up the goals, and it was becoming a defensive nightmare for Everton without several experienced players.

Then Luisão increased their misery in the 52nd minute, extending Benfica’s lead to 4-0 after Coleman made a desperate but vain attempt to keep the ball out.

Three minutes later, Di María smashed a shot against the bar as Everton struggled to regroup. Then Di María tested Tim Howard from 20 yards.

Cardozo was finding acres of space down the right, but he sent a tame shot into Howard’s arms. However, the Argentinian brought out a fine save from the goalkeeper in the 66th minute when he somehow managed to block the effort.

Benfica made it 5-0 in the 84th minute, when Saviola got his second after a cross from Di María.

Everton were chasing shadows, and the final whistle must have come as a huge relief to Moyes and his players – not to mention the 6,000 travelling fans.

Uefa Europa LeagueBenficaEvertonTim Richguardian.co.uk