Half-Time Report: Romelu Lukaku fires Everton ahead

Everton have gone into half time 1-0 ahead against Wolfsburg courtesy of Romelu Lukaku's strike shortly before the interval.

The home side created the first the real opening of the contest with five minutes played, with Ivan Perisic heading over the bar from close range after getting the better of marker Tony Hibbert.

Everton came close to edging ahead when Sylvain Distin struck the woodwork with a headed effort of his own at the back post, although it was Wolfsburg who will feel aggrieved not to have taken the lead when Perisic's close-range finish was ruled out for being offside.

Aaron Hunt's long-range drive forced Tim Howard into action shortly after, while the Toffees suffered a blow on the half-hour mark when James McCarthy left the field with a thigh injury.

Then, with two minutes to go before the interval, Everton's travelling support were sent into raptures when Lukaku charged half the length of the pitch before keeping his composure to fire the ball beyond Diego Benaglio.