[AMERICANS ABROAD] In Landon Donovan's Europa League debut, Everton defeated Sporting Lisbon, 2-1, on Tuesday in the first leg of their round-of-32 series.

Tim Howard was in goal from the Toffees, who led 2-0 until Frenchman Sylvain Distin was sent off for a foul that led to a penalty kick converted by Miguel Veloso in the 86th minute.

Steven Pienaar converted a backheel by Tim Cahill and Distin scored off Leighton Baines' corner on either side of halftime.

Feb. 16 in Liverpool
Everton 2 Sporting 1. Goals: Pienaar 35, Distin 48; Veloso pen. 87.
Everton  -- Howard, Neville, Yobo, Distin, Baines, Donovan, Osman, Arteta (Rodwell, 79), Pienaar, Cahill (Yakubu, 62), Saha (Bilyaletdinov, 83).
Sporting -- Rui Patricio, Abel, Tonel, Carrico, Grimi, Mendes, Veloso; Izmailov, Fernandez (Saleiro, 66), Moutinho (Djalo, 66), Liedson.
Red Card: Everton -- Distin 87.
Referee: Darko Ceferin (Slovenia).

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ENGLAND, League Championship
Kenny Cooper, sub: 29 minutes (Plymouth, 1-1, tie vs. Swansea)
Frank Simek, 90 minutes (Sheffield Wednesday, 0-2, at Doncaster)