Rookie midfielder Jack Rodwell became Everton's youngest goalscorer in European competition with two spectacular long-range goals in their emphatic Europa League play-off first-leg victory over Sigma Olomouc at Goodison Park.

With Louis Saha also weighing in with a brace this was surely the response manager David Moyes was looking for after the drubbing by Arsenal at the weekend.

Moyes recalled both scorers, dropping Joleon Lescott for a poor attitude in the wake of that defeat and after they had rejected two bids from Manchester City.

Skipper Phil Neville was drafted into defence with Saha replacing Jo against the Czechs, who had defeated Aberdeen 8-1 on aggregate in the previous round.

After a nervous start when goalkeeper Tim Howard parried a shot from Michal Ordos, Everton flexed their muscles and the return leg next week will surely be a formality.

Everton almost took the lead in the 23rd minute when Leon Osman rattled in a shot only for Petr Drobisz to turn it over the bar.

They continued to push forward and Osman tried his luck again six minutes later but again saw his effort fly over the bar.

Everton's pressure paid off in the 34th minute when Saha made the breakthrough to give them a lift.

The former Manchester United striker got ahead of the goalkeeper after Marouane Fellaini delivered the cross to find the corner with his effort.

It was Saha's second goal in two games after he scored the consolation against Arsenal and just the boost Everton were looking for.

They added a second six minutes later with a thunderous effort from Rodwell to mark his return to the first team.

He thumped a shot beyond Drobisz from 20 yards after a free-kick by Leighton Baines had come back off the wall.

One of Everton's brightest young stars, 18-year-old Rodwell wheeled away in a delight after such a fine goal and Pienaar almost got a third before half-time only for the goalkeeper to get his body behind the ball.

Everton were looking to keep up the pressure at the start of the second half and stretched their lead in the 54th minute.

They went 3-0 ahead thanks to another thunderbolt from Rodwell. Baines' free-kick was only partially cleared and Pienaar slid it back into the path of the teenager, who showed little hesitation to rifle a shot from 25 yards beyond a despairing Drobisz.

Rodwell then took a knock and as he hobbled to the touchline was given a rousing ovation by the Everton supporters.

The Czechs did not seem to have learned their lesson and kept allowing Rodwell room to set himself up.

He did so in the 64th minute when Tim Cahill teed him up and was only marginally off target with Drobisz scrambling across his goal.

It was all Everton at this stage with Stigma looking disorganised and dispirited.

It was becoming a stroll for Everton with the visitors tiring and Saha added a fourth in the 74th minute with a sweet finish after he was set up by Osman.

Three minutes later Rodwell was given a standing ovation as he was replaced by another bright youngster Dan Gosling as Everton surely secured their passage into the group stages.

Teams

Everton Howard, Hibbert, Neville, Yobo, Baines, Osman,Fellaini, Rodwell (Gosling 77), Cahill, Pienaar (Vaughan 82),Saha (Jo 79).

Subs Not Used: Nash, Duffy, Baxter, Wallace.

Booked: Neville.

Goals: Saha 34, Rodwell 40, 54, Saha 73.

Sigma Olomouc Drobisz, Daniel Rossi, Dreska, Skerle, Onofrej,Kascak, Otepka (Bajer 61), Hubnik, Tomas Lovasik,Petr (Janotka 74), Ordos (Sultes 46).

Subs Not Used: Tomas Lovasik, Ulma, Stepan, Veprek.

Booked: Hubnik.

Att: 27,433

Ref: Lucilio Cardoso Cortez Batista (Portugal).