Portsmouth shine as English display intent

It was a successful night for England's five UEFA Cup representatives as all but Everton FC registered first-leg victories in the UEFA Cup first round. Manchester City FC and Aston Villa FC were forced to come from behind on their travels, however, while Tottenham Hotspur FC overcame nerves and a quick-fire equaliser to prevail. Portsmouth FC survived a penalty miss to run out 2-0 winners in their first game in UEFA club competition.

Portsmouth FC 2-0 Vitória SC
Lassana Diarra and Jermain Defoe got the goals as the home side defeated their visitors from Portugal. After soaking up all that Guimarães threw at them early on, Diarra struck six minutes before half-time, cutting in from the left flank, playing a one-two with Defoe and firing in a fine half-volley. The visitors had a golden chance to restore parity before the break but João Paulo Fajardo blazed a penalty over. Defoe also failed from the spot (49) as his effort was saved before making amends on the hour when he steered in Glen Johnson's exquisite cross.

PFC Litex Lovech 1-3 Aston Villa FC
The visitors came from a goal behind at the Gradski Stadium as home hopes were spoiled by two second-half dismissals. All was going to plan for Litex when Ivelin Popov fired in a tenth-minute free-kick and Wilfried Niflore should have doubled the lead just before the interval but shot into the side-netting. It proved pivotal. Moments later Nigel Reo-Coker capitalised on a goalkeeping error to equalise and Litex aspirations were dealt another knock when Cedric Cambon picked up his second yellow card on the hour. Mihail Venkov also saw red (71) as he conceded a penalty and Gareth Barry made no mistake from the spot. Bulgarian international Stilian Petrov completed the misery for his compatriots in added time.

Omonia AC 1-2 Manchester City FC
Like Villa, City conceded first before Brazilian striker Jô chose a timely moment to get off the mark for his new employers. Klodian Duro was a two-goal hero against AEK Athens FC in the third qualifying round and he struck again for Omonia with a free-kick four minutes after half-time in Nicosia. City had bossed the first half, however, and twice hit the woodwork and they regained parity just before the hour when Jô converted Shaun Wright-Phillips's cross. Having found his range the Brazilian sealed the win 13 minutes later, brilliantly cushioning Pablo Zabaleta's centre and firing in.

Everton FC 2-2 R. Standard de Liège 
Standard's UEFA Champions League hopes were extinguished by Liverpool FC last month but they did their prospects of UEFA Cup progress no harm on their return to Merseyside at Goodison Park. The Belgian champions did not find the net in 210 minutes against Liverpool but they struck twice inside the first 35 at Everton, Diedonne Mbokani turning in Wilfried Dalmat's cross after nine minutes and Joseph Yobo putting a Marcos Camozzato cross into his own net. Yet both times Everton, who reached the last 16 last term, found a response. First Yakubu Ayegbeni (23) struck with a first-time shot, then Segundo Castillo (38) marked his home debut with a half-volley from 20 metres.

Tottenham Hotspur FC 2-1 Wisła Kraków
Darren Bent struck his third goal in as many outings as Spurs claimed a nervy win at White Hart Lane. The striker headed in Fraizer Campbell's cross with 17 minutes to go, restoring the lead David Bentley had given the home side in the 33rd minute. The initial advantage had lasted only 60 seconds, Tomáš Jirsák chipping in after Paweł Brożek had brilliantly diverted a right-wing cross into his path. Having made their worst start to a league campaign in 34 years, the Londoners will hope this victory will ignite their season.