45 mins

• Collins was everywhere on the pitch.
• Tiler was clumsy
• Ferguson still not in best form, and not match-fit
• Madar was dangerous
• Spencer the best of the 3 strikers
• Hutchison played the dog of war with Dacourt
• Watson was solid
• Thomas was good
• Ball was very good

A decent performance generally.  

The Blues got off to the perfect start with an opening goal after just 53 seconds. The impressive Don Hutchison dispossessed Romanian World Cup star Galca and sent in a curling cross which Nando turned past his own goalkeeper under pressure from fit-again Duncan Ferguson.

That advantage was doubled four minutes later following another right-wing centre. Hutchison's excellent cross-field pass found Tony Thomas, whose cross was cleared only as far as Olivier Dacourt.

His mis-kick fortuitously found its way back to Thomas whose cross was met with an acrobatic volley from Spencer which beat Toni with the aid of the post. Controlled and inventive through the midfield trio of Hutchison, Collins and Dacourt, Everton put together their best half of football in pre-season so far and could have won by a greater margin. It was the Dogs of War with an added touch of class. The game ended with Benitez and Michael Ball being booked for late tackles as tempers flared late on.

But Liege's previous 0-0 draw and penalty shoot-out success over Espanol meant that Everton won the tournament on a convoluted points system. Not that the smart gold trophy mattered.

What was more important was a sharper, more positive performance after the disappointing display in Alkmaar 24 hours earlier. Everton were slick and penetrative against Espanol in a highly competitive match full of flying tackles.

After a full hour's break they then took to the field against Liege, were understandably less fluent, but still maintained sufficient discipline to hold a comfortable draw.

In front of an estimated 10,000 crowd Everton caught Espanol napping twice inside five minutes. Only 53 seconds had elapsed when Don Hutchison robbed Pacheta, darted down the right flank and then whipped in a dangerous cross which would have found Duncan Ferguson, but for Nando's panicky clearance straight past his own goalkeeper.

Hutchison was equally instrumental in creating Everton's second goal just four minutes later. His superbly executed long range pass found Tony Thomas in the right wing position. His first cross was blocked but then Dacourt miskicked the ball back to the overlapping defender.

This time Thomas whipped in a wonderfully executed cross which John Spencer met with an equally expert volley, turned in off the post. Walter Smith had started with three strikers - Ferguson, Spencer and Madar - and with Collins and Dacourt continuing the bright impression made the previous day, Everton were dominant.

Wearing their yellow training strip they swept forward regularly, with Myhre's only involvement a smart block from Benitez following an uncharacteristically sloppy backpass from Dacourt. Madar and Dacourt both shot over, while Collins produced a wonderful burst of skill to dart into the Espanol penalty area, before greedily shooting, rather than pass to the better placed Ferguson.

It was all highly entertaining stuff, in contrast to the much lower-key second 'mini-match' against Liege.