Collins and Dacourt were both withdrawn in the second half as Everton – without skipper Duncan Ferguson, who was nursing a slight ankle injury – tried but failed to find a way back into the game.

Alkmaar went ahead after four minutes, striker Max Huiberts firing an unstoppable effort beyond Thomas Myhre from just outside the box.

Nick Barmby and Michael Ball both went close to equalising, but Everton were stunned by a two-goal blast in the opening four minutes of the second half.

First Robert van der Weert capitalised on good work from Huiberts to shoot home on 48 minutes and 60 seconds later Michel Langerak powered a right-foot effort past Myhre. Midfielder Tony Grant pulled one back 15 minutes from time after Mickael Madar's volley was blocked.

Alkmaar started the brighter of the two teams and took the lead as early as the 4th minute when Max Hubert rifled a shot into the back of the net from the edge of the area. Hubert nearly doubled the lead moments later but this time his header was just wide and Everton lived again.

Everton began to find their feet and on 22 minutes nearly got back on level terms. Good work from Tony Thomas down the left resulted in Nick Barmby picking up the ball, he skipped into the box before firing in a low shot that was well saved by the Alkmaar keeper.

Everton continued to push forward and Materazzi nearly opened his account for his new club when heading Michael Ball's cross just wide of the post. Everton were showing signs that they could get themselves back into the game but those hopes quickly faded 4 minutes into the second half when Alkmaar struck twice.

On 48 minutes Van de Wurst scored with a left footed drive from just inside the box and then two minutes later Lanzerak added another with a similar strike.

Everton could offer little in response and a Branch shot that was saved by the keeper was the only effort of note in the opening to the half.

Everton grabbed a consolation goal on 75 minutes when Madar's volley was well saved by the keeper, but Tony Grant was on hand to finish from close range.

Managed by Willem Van Hanegem, who was interviewed by Peter Johnson for the vacant manager's post last summer, Alkmaar were fitter, sharper and more compact than Everton, who operated with Michael Branch as a lone striker.

Promoted to the Dutch first division last season after running away with the championship, Alkmaar's one-touch passing set the tone and they opened the scoring after just four minutes when Max Huiberts crashed a 20-yard shot past Thomas Myhre who was rooted to the spot.

It took 21 minutes for Everton to even test goalkeeper Oscar Moens, Barmby's early drive from the edge of the penalty turned behind for a corner. And all hopes of Smith securing his first win disappeared when Alkmaar scored two goals inside a minute just after the break.

John O'Kane was dispossessed as he tried to dribble out of defence on 48 minutes and Robert van der Weert drilled a low shot past Myhre after side-stepping Italian Marco Materazzi. Then Craig Short failed to cut out a long ball from John Mutsaers and Michel Langerak finished well.

Smith made six substitutions after an hour and the introduction of Tony Grant saw an improvement. His passing added some much-needed urgency to Everton's play and it was the midfielder who grabbed a consolation goal with 15 minutes remaining by tapping home the rebound after Mickael Madar's shot had been saved.