By Aimee Lewis

Andrew Johnson and Yakubu celebrate Everton's first goal

A Yakubu hat-trick ensured Everton set up a last-16 Uefa Cup encounter with Fiorentina after easing past SK Brann.

Yakubu's curling shot gave Everton the lead, with Andrew Johnson's drive doubling the advantage minutes later.

The Nigerian jinked past the defence for his second before Petter Vaagan Moen's free-kick beat Tim Howard.

Mikel Arteta's 20-yard strike deflected in for Everton's fourth, a tap-in gave Yakubu his third and Johnson's spectacular goal sealed the win.

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Before the match SK Brann coach Mons Ivar Mjelde said that his team would need "a miracle of a lifetime" to progress.

As soon as Yakubu scored 10 minutes before the break it was obvious there would be no divine inspiration on behalf of the Norwegian champions.

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The Norwegian league does not begin until 30 March and, just as it did in the first leg in Bergen, Brann's lack of match fitness ultimately told.

Everton could have scored more, with both Johnson and Steven Pienaar hitting the post, as David Moyes' side secured their seventh consecutive, and their biggest, European win.

But Everton - who had not played since last week's first leg - were a little rusty in the first half. Their sluggishness was epitomised by Nuno Valente who, in the 12th minute, allowed the ball to run underneath his foot for a throw-in.

Brann had their chances; notably in the 34th minute when Thorstein Helstad's acute near post shot forced a superb reflex save from Tim Howard.

Less than 60 seconds later, however, Everton went up field, Tim Cahill's neat back-flick found Yakubu and the former Middlesbrough striker's curling shot beat the hapless Hakon Opdal.

The lively Johnson all but put the final nail in the coffin when he doubled the home side's lead with a low strike from the right-hand edge of the box.

Johnson could have scored his second immediately after the break when Phil Neville set the England striker free. Johnson beat Opdal but luckily for the Brann goalkeeper the post did his work for him.

The former Crystal Palace striker was again at the heart of Everton's third goal as his clever run across goal created space for Yakubu to beat his marker and finish for his second of the evening.

Brann got a deserved consolation goal on the hour when Moen's driven free-kick bobbled along the ground and embarrassingly beat the diving Howard, who had attempted a one-handed save.

Helstad then had a great chance when substitute Manuel Fernandes gave the ball away cheaply, but striker found the side-netting.

Yakubu after scoring his hat-trick

And, just as in the first half, Helstad's profligacy was punished when Arteta neatly controlled Pienaar's pass to score. His 20-yard strike was helped by a huge deflection which wrong-footed the goalkeeper.

Two minutes later and Yakubu completed his hat-trick, becoming only the third Everton player - after Andy Gray and Alan Ball - to score three goals in Europe. Pienaar's bye-line cross giving the Nigeria striker a simple tap-in at the far post.

Pienaar nearly got a goal his industry deserved six minutes before time, but his shot hit the post.

Johnson saved the best until last with a glorious 30-yard strike into the top-right corner for his second of the night.

Serie A's Fiorentina now await David Moyes' men in the next round after the Italians beat Rosenborg 3-1 on aggregate in their tie.

"We didn't play particularly well (in the first half hour) so you have to give them credit.

"In the end the finishing quality got us the result. The first goal was crucial no matter who got it."

Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Lescott, Nuno Valente, Pienaar, Cahill (Fernandes 46), Carsley (Hibbert 46), Arteta, Johnson, Yakubu (Anichebe 73).
Subs Not Used: Wessels, Baines, Vaughan, Osman.

Booked: Fernandes.

Goals: Yakubu 36, Johnson 41, Yakubu 54, Arteta 70, Yakubu 72, Johnson 90.

SK Brann: Opdal, Dahl, Bjarnason (Karadas 65), Sigurdsson, Hanstveit, Moen, El Fakiri (Huseklepp 60), Bakke, Solli, Demba-Nyren (Winters 72), Helstad.
Subs Not Used: Udjus, Guntveit, Einarsson, Thwaite.

Booked: Bakke.

Goals: Moen 60.

Att: 32,834

Ref: Nikolai Ivanov (Russia).

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Everton's Yakubu 8.91 (on 90 minutes).