Everton cruised to a 2-0 win over SK Brann in their UEFA Cup last-32 first leg in Norway thanks to goals from Leon Osman and Victor Anichebe.

After an even first half, Osman smashed the Toffeemen into the lead on 59 minutes. Brann's threat petered out from there and substitute Anichebe finished off Joleon Lescott's cross to double the advantage with two minutes left to play.

Everton could have taken the lead sooner from the boot of Tim Cahill, the Australia star's strike cannoning off the upright with Hakon Opdal beaten.

David Moyes gave Nigeria striker Yakubu his first start since the African Cup of Nations - and subsequent disappearance - and the decision almost paid off when Phil Neville threaded a ball through for him after only 30 seconds.

However, his shot was well held by Opdal.

Although Everton dominated possession at times in the opening 45 minutes it was the home team that threatened in the final third, Jan Gunnar Solli putting in an early free-kick that Cahill just got enough of a head on to put off the arriving Olafur Orn Bjarnason.

Thorstein Helstad had scored 24 goals in 36 games before the match and was on the end of an Azar Karadas ball with the Everton defence static. Before he could get a shot away from eight yards, Phil Jagielka recovered in time to clear.

Osman whipped a dangerous shot that Opdal tipped around the post before at the other end Brann had the ball in the net - only for referee Anton Genov to disallow it for Eirik Bakke's challenge on Howard.

That was in first-half injury-time and Brann's attacking creativity was almost entirely stifled in the second period.

Eight minutes into it Cahill picked up the ball and ran with it before crashing a shot off the top half of the post to scare the home support into backing their side. However, they were quieted again when Osman opened the scoring.

Cahill worked to win the ball and fed Yakubu, who played in his strike partner Johnson. The diminutive striker's cross was headed away as far as Osman - and the equally-tiny midfielder promptly cracked the ball on the volley into the far corner.

Brann enjoyed a brief resurgence when substitute and debutant Njogu Demba-Nyren arrived on the field to test Tim Howard at full-stretch. The following corner was headed at goal by Helstad, but the American just prevented it from crossing the line.

With two minutes to play Manuel Fernandes, the only player to be booked on the night, fed Lescott down the left and the England defender's pinpoint cross between defence and attack was met by Anichebe.

The young striker, only on the pitch for 12 minutes, made no mistake from a few yards out.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport