Everton left aggrieved as Forlan's late goal clinches £10m prize

Villarreal 2 Everton 1 Villarreal win 4-2 on aggregate

Last-minute alterations to El Madrigal Stadium brought it up to Champions' League standards hours before kick-off, but it was not only Uefa regulations that Villarreal were unprepared for. A sea of Evertonians descended on a town of 45,000 inhabitants and overtook the 22,000-capacity ground.

Officially, the Goodison club had 1,600 supporters there. To the naked eye, the decision to put tickets on general sale swelled that by at least three times. A 10-year wait for European football attracted a staggering mass from Merseyside, ensuring the Spanish version of "Yellow Submarine" that precedes all Villarreal home games returned to its native dialect before kick-off.

It was Everton who were initially dominant. The visitors were comfortable in possession and should have taken the lead in the 17th minute when Duncan Ferguson turned Phil Neville's throw into a free header in front of goal for Tim Cahill, but the Australian could only head straight into the arms of Mariano Barbosa.

The Argentina goalkeeper had been identified as a weak link by David Moyes, but before Everton could test him again they were behind to a soft deflected strike by Juan Pablo Sorin. Juan Roman Riquelme released Sorin into acres of space through the centre in the 20th minute. The retreat of the visiting defence proved costly, as his 20-yard shot stuck David Weir on the backside and left Nigel Martyn completely wrong-footed.

Ferguson was presented with a glorious opportunity to draw Everton level in the 51st minute but could only glance an inviting cross from Simon Davies wide, and Villarreal began to pick at their opponents' frustration and make Martyn the most overworked 39-year-old in Spain.

Not that Everton could be faulted for endeavour, and when Mikel Arteta scored with a delightful free-kick 21 minutes from time they had renewed vigour.

Ferguson forced an outstanding save from Barbosa with 10 minutes remaining and looked to have sent the game into extra time when he converted a towering header from the resulting corner by Arteta. To the incredulity of the big Scot, and everyone else in blue, Collina disallowed what appeared a perfectly good goal for a non-existent push.

Diego Forlan tapped in a 93rd minute winner as Everton pressed forward for a more legitimate goal.

Villarreal (4-4-2): Barbosa; Rodriguez, Arruebarrena, Venta, (Kromkamp, 15) Senna; Sorin, Alavarez, Riquelme, Josico; Forlan, Figueroa (Tacchinardi, 82). Substitutes not used: Vallejo (gk), Guayre, Font, Cazorla, Pena.

Everton (4-1-3-2): Martyn; Hibbert, Yobo, Weir, Kilbane (Osman, 58); Neville; Davies (McFadden, 78), Cahill, Arteta; Bent, Ferguson. Substitutes not used: Wright (gk), Li Tie, Hughes, Vaughan, Wilson.

Referee: P Collina (Italy).