Then came Benfica's opener: Di Maria, who frequently caused Tony Hibbert and DanGosling a host of problems with his pace and trickery down the left flank, delivered an inch-perfect cross for his fellow Argentinian Saviola.
It was Everton's two late substitutes who clinched the three points as DanGosling slid in Steven Pienaar's cross with 14 minutes left and Jack Rodwell made it three with a solo effort in the dying seconds.