They travelled more than 2,000 miles, paid hundreds of pounds and watched 82 largely turgid minutes of football from their team.Krasnodar 1-1 Everton match report: John Stones the star as Blues snatch draw
Greg O'Keeffe's verdict from the Europa League draw in Russia
John Stones steps away from Krasnodar's Marat Izmailov
They travelled more than 2,000 miles, paid hundreds of pounds and watched 82 largely turgid minutes of football from their team.
But the Evertonians who embarked on the planes, trains and automobiles mission to Russia won't mind because of a solitary second of innate finishing from Samuel Eto'o.
The veteran striker has played in more European games than most of his team-mates combined, and he showed his class with the goal which turned a faltering display into one which leaves the Blues nicely positioned in group H.
Snatching a draw from this tricky encounter at the Kuban stadium was an achievement for a side still struggling to reach the levels of last season, when they qualified for the Europa League by finishing fifth
Continuing the theme of last weekend's Anfield derby the Blues flattered to deceive, fell behind and then managed to save themselves as the clock ticked down.
The game in pictures:
Samuel Eto'o scores the equaliser against Krasnodar
It might not be the triumphant football which had neutrals applauding last term, but this resilience is a useful habit nonetheless.
They say travel broadens the mind, but in Everton's case it simply numbed it for the majority of this contest.
Krasnodar were always going to be tough opponents.
They might be relative unknowns on this stage, but Aiden McGeady – and anyone who watched them march past Real Sociedad to qualify for the Europa League – will have insisted that they were no mugs.
If any of Everton's players had doubted the veracity of McGeady's warning they were swiftly corrected from the opening whistle.
The Russians started at break-neck speed, pressing relentlessly and pouring forward at will to create a string of early opportunities which had Everton on the ropes.
Marat Izmailov wasted his first opening when he back-heeled Ricardo Laborde's low cross over the bar from close range.
Then the lively winger forced Tim Howard into a fine one-handed save with a fierce drive from outside the area.
Having managed to survive the onslaught the Blues gradually got a foothold, and began frustrating the hosts with their possession game.
It was Krasnodar goalkeeper Andriy Dykan's turn to earn his roubles next with impressive saves from McGeady and Gareth Barry's curler from outside the area.
Roberto Martinez had made five changes from the side which drew with Liverpool, largely tinkering with his midfield and attack where Darron Gibson, Leon Osman, McGeady and Christian Atsu were all given starts and Eto'o was asked to lead the line from the offset.
However they couldn't break the stalemate and were punished as the hosts came on strong again in the closing stages of the half.
Out of nowhere Ozil Ahmedov lobbed the ball towards Everton's area and defensive mishap, a frequent companion this season, reared its ugly head once again.
Phil Jagielka miscued a hooked clearance, taking John Stones out of the game and diverted the ball into the path of Brazilian striker Ari.
He was able to steady himself and lash the ball past Howard to give his side the lead at a crucial moment.
Krasnodar 1-1 Everton FC: what we learned from the Europa League draw
Martinez asked Lukaku to provide some much needed cutting edge after the break, replacing the largely ineffective Atsu.
But it was the Russians who continued their bombardment, almost forcing Jagielka into another costly error when he lost possession and Ahmedov shaped to shoot, but the skipper quickly got back and put in the block to cover his own blushes.
Such was his side's superiority by then, Krasnodar coach Oleg Kononov could afford the luxury of replacing the influential Ismailov with Wanderson.
But the Brazilian almost made it an inspired change when he waltzed past Stones and into the area only to strike the bar with his effort as Howard bore down on him.
All the cold and fed-up travelling Toffees could do by this point was begrudgingly admire Krasnodar's energy, solidity and razor-sharp counter attacking.
Thoughts in the away end were probably turning to the arduous journey home, when out of nowhere salvation beckoned.
Leighton Baines delivered a pinpoint cross from the right, and Eto'o showed his innate ability to get across his marker and stab home with his left foot.
It might not have been hugely deserved on the balance of play but suddenly the Blues were emboldened.
Lukaku saw a back post header beaten away by Dykan and Eto'o won a corner when he harassed Andreas Granqvist into heading behind from another Baines delivery.
At least the Blues finished with a flourish to suggest last season wasn't just an extended daydream.
Their manager called it a step into the unknown, but at least one thing was clear after the trip to Krasnodar.
Everton are developing a knack of refusing to know when they're beaten.
Until they rediscover their free-flowing best, it is something to cling onto.
Star Man: JOHN STONES was calm and composed and turned in yet another eye-catching display at the heart of a defence put under some serious pressure.
FC KRASNODAR: (4-1-4-1) Dykan, Jedrzejczyk, Granqvist (Capt), Kaleshin, Sigurdsson, Gazinski, Ahmedov, Izmailov (Wanderson, 65), Laborde (Mamaev, 71), Pereyra, Ari.
Subs not used: Sinitsin, Martynovich, Burmistrov, Adzhindzhal, Petrov.
Goals: Ari (43)
EVERTON: (4-2-3-1) Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka (Capt), Stones, Baines, Gibson, Barry, Atsu, Osman, McGeady, Eto'o.
Subs not used: Robles, Browning, Alcaraz, Oviedo, Besic, Naismith, Lukaku.
Bookings: Lukaku.
Goals: Eto'o (82)
Referee: Huseyin Gocek.
Attendance: 28,900.
Source: Echo
