Dominic Calvert-Lewin struck to earn a 1-0 win over MFK Ružomberok at the picturesque Štadión pod Čebraťom and ensure Everton’s progression to the play-off qualifying stage of the UEFA Europa League with a 2-0 aggregate victory.
The Blues headed to Slovakia with the slender advantage after Leighton Baines’ 20-yard strike seven days earlier.
And Calvert-Lewin, who notched the winner for England Under-20s in their World Cup final earlier this summer, stepped off the bench to latch onto Davy Klaassen’s slide-rule pass and fire home with aplomb to make certain of the overall result.
The Toffees will not have long to wait to discover the team standing in their way of a place in the group stages, with the play-off draw set to be held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon on Friday (4 August).
On a difficult night where the Toffees struggled to find their rhythm for long spells, three players reached landmarks for the Club as Ronald Koeman made four changes from the side that started the first leg, opting for a 3-5-2 formation, with Leighton Baines and Tom Davies deployed as wing-backs.
Baines overtook Tommy Wright’s record of appearances for an Everton full-back by making his 376th outing for the Blues, while Phil Jagielka celebrated a new one-year contract extension by racking up his 350th game, and Wayne Rooney played his 50th game in a royal blue shirt.
Jordan Pickford was also given the nod in goal for his competitive debut following a summer move from Sunderland for a fee that could rise to a Club-record-equalling £30million.
The sun had been shining all afternoon in eastern Slovakia and it was still shorts and t-shirt conditions at kick-off for the 450 Everton fans who had spent the afternoon singing and mingling with locals in the town centre, just a leisurely 15-minute walk from the stadium.
Clearly buoyed by a thumping 4-0 triumph against Senica in their first home game of the Fortuna Liga season on Sunday, Ružomberok started the contest on the front foot and could have restored overall parity within six minutes.
Dalibor Takac won a corner after a smart move down the right flank and it was he who provided a dangerous corner that captain Dominik Kruzliak could only glance off target from the corner of the six-yard box.
The hosts threatened again moments later again down the right wing as Erik Daniel broke into the penalty area, forcing Pickford into action for the first time of the night - and the 23-year-old reacted well to block the low centre away to safety.
The Toffees started to show signs of life with strike duo Rooney and Sandro Ramirez - who was also making his full Everton debut after coming on as a substitute in the opening exchange at Goodison Park - combining well with Klaassen.
Intricate work between Sandro and Klaassen resulted in a half chance for Rooney, who opted to go for a chip from the edge of the penalty area that in the end sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
In an unfamiliar role, Davies was characteristically industrious throughout and affecting the game at both ends of the field. It looked like he may provide the opener when superbly taking Rooney’s cross-field pass on his chest to beat his marker and drove down the wing before providing an inviting cut-back - but Rooney slipped at the vital moment and the chance evaporated.
As the Blues continued to struggle to create clear-cut opportunities, Sandro persisted on chasing down lost causes and harrying defenders. One chance that did fall the Spaniard’s way came when Klaassen provided a slide-rule pass but after taking on the defender, Sandro could only blast off target.
Norbert Hrnčár’s side began the second period in a similar fashion to the first, with Daniel threatening moments after the restart with a 25-yard drive.
But, attacking the end of the majestic Čebrať hill, Everton looked more threatening and Davies manufactured another opportunity after a marauding run and cut-back. Unfortunately for the Blues, nobody was on hand to sweep home.
Calvert-Lewin’s introduction with 20 minutes remaining seemed to add impetus to the attack and Koeman’s switch was rewarded after just 11 minutes when Klaassen found the former Sheffield United man, who made no mistake in setting himself and firing low into the bottom corner past a helpless Matus Macik.
It may not have been the prettiest but it was a case of job done for the visitors, with the 450 travelling Toffees leaving the quaint town of Ružomberok in jubilant mood, knowing this was just the beginning of another European adventure.
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