Everton in control with Europa League first-leg win

Everton hold the advantage as they beat Hajduk Split 2-0 in their Europa League first-leg qualifier at Goodison Park.

First-half goals from Michael Keane and Idrissa Gueye hands the Premier League side a huge advantage going into the second-leg, which takes place on August 24, as they look to qualify for a European group-stage for the first time since 2014-15.

Everton's first-half performance showed signs Ronald Koeman's summer signings are starting to gel as an attacking unit, but still lack the killer instinct to kill sides off, depending on Jordan Pickford to keep out Hajduk Split after the break.

Everton now turn their attention to another tough test as they face Manchester City in the Premier League on August 21.

It was the hosts who started on the front-foot with their high tempo causing the Croats problems, they were unlucky not break the deadlock six minutes in as Wayne Rooney narrowly headed wide from Kevin Mirallas' corner.

Ademola Lookman and Cuco Martina were looking a constant threat on the right-wing and it was the latter's cross which nearly picked out Davy Klaassen, the former Ajax man inches away from putting his side ahead.

Indeed, Everton did take the lead in the 30th minute when Leighton Baines' looping cross was met by Keane at the back-post, who comfortably nodded home for his first Blues' goal since signing from Burnley.

Ugly scenes followed as the referee was forced to stop play when the travelling fans appeared to kick down the advertising board while attempting to invade the pitch, the situation was quickly brought under control before play continued.

Rooney looked to have scored his second goal in the space of a week after he found the net from a clever Klaassen flick, but the former Manchester United striker was correctly ruled offside.

But the Toffees did double their advantage in the 45th minute after the impressive Klaassen nipped the ball from Savvas Gentsoglou before picking out Rooney whose quick pass found Gueye inside the box, leaving the 27-year-old to finish into the bottom-right corner for a well-deserved two-goal lead at half-time.

The home team failed to replicate the start to the opening 45, and struggled to create any real opportunities, with Rooney's glancing header sailing wide just before the hour-mark.

Despite showing little in terms of an attacking threat for most of the game, the visitors could have snatched a crucial away-goal in the 60th minute when Hamza Barry's dissecting ball fell into the path of Frank Ohandza, whose low-hit effort forced a save from Pickford.

Barry, who was arguably the visitor's best player, came close himself in the 72nd minute when the midfielder cut across the box before unleashing his effort wide, another warning sign for Koeman's side.

And Pickford was called into action again in the 82nd minute after Ante Erceg beat three Everton players before smashing his effort towards the near-post, only to be denied by the safe hands of Pickford, who has yet to concede since joining from Sunderland.

The game ended as it was and it looks likely that Everton will be in the hat for the Europa League group-stage draw which takes place on August 25th.

eir Sport channels are available across the eir Vision, Sky and Vodafone TV platforms as well as on the eir Sport app. All 7 channels in the eir Sport pack are available for free if you are a residential eir broadband customer