Pienaar, Nomvete in Uefa Cup action

The game between the English Premiership’s Everton and lowly Bundesliga outfit Nuremberg was an exciting encounter with both sides pressing hard for an opener.

And with play switching from end-to-end, the game turned in the 75th minute when the tiring Nigerian striker Ayegbeni Yakubu was replaced by his fellow countryman Victor Anichebe, who first won a penalty, which was converted by Mikel Arteta, and then scored a second just before the final whistle.

Earlier, Pienaar almost gifted a goal to Nuremberg when he dummied the ball straight to an opposing midfielder, but his shot was well saved by the Everton ’keeper.

After two victories, Everton top Group A by two points from Zenit St Petersburg, and are almost certain to go through to the knockout stages.

Nomvete’s Danish outfit hosted Anderlecht in their opening Group G fixture, which also includes Tottenham Hotspur, Getafe and Hapoel Tel-Aviv.

The Bafana Bafana player was substituted in the 78th minute, just before his team equalised. There was no score at half time and this group is still wide open following the 1-1 draw.

Benedict Vilakazi, who recently scored for Aalborg’s reserves in a Second Division encounter, was not considered for selection.

And Nasief Morris was not in the Panathinaikos team that defeated FC Copenhagen 1-0 in Group B, but his Greek club look favourites to proceed in this lucrative tournament.

They have six points, four ahead of Lokomotiv Moscow, although Atletico Madrid has a game in hand.