LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Nigerian international Ayegbeni Yakubu became only the third Everton player to hit a European hat-trick as the Merseysiders crushed Brann Bergen 6-1 in the UEFA Cup last 32 on Thursday.

Yakubu followed Alan Ball and Andy Gray into the Goodison Park record books with his three goals which helped Everton set up a mouthwatering last 16 clash with Italian giants Fiorentina.

Andrew Johnson also grabbed two goals in the 8-1 aggregate rout.

Everton, whose only European title came in the Cup Winners Cup in 1985, struggled to stamp their authority early on against a Norwegian team still slowly feeling their way out of their winter league recess.

But once Yakubu had given them the lead, there was never any doubt as to the outcome.

The Nigerian striker, who fell foul of Blues boss David Moyes for returning late from African Nations Cup duty, scored a fine opener in the 36th minute.

Australian international Tim Cahill played the striker through with a neat backheel and Yakubu curled a right-footed shot past Hakon Opdal in the Bergen goal.

That made it 3-0 on aggregate which became 4-0 overall five minutes later when Johnson found the target with a low right-footed effort from an acute angle.

Nine minutes after the interval, Yakubu was on target again, drawing the tackles of two defenders to score in the corner past Opdal.

Vaagan Moen pulled one back on the hour mark with a long-distance free-kick which took a nasty bounce off the turf which deceived Tim Howard in the Everton goal.

Ten minutes later, Everton were 4-1 ahead on the night and 6-1 in front on aggregate when Spanish midfielder Mikael Arteta unleashed a drive from the edge of the box which took a deflection off a defender which left Opdal wrong-footed.

Then Yakuba completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute tapping in from close range after more fine work down the left by Arteta.

Everton could have two more in the second half but Johnson and Steve Pienaar both saw efforts come back off the woodwork.

However, Johnson had the final say with a 25-yard screamer for his team's sixth of the night.