Chelsea claimed a professional 2-0 win away at Everton on Saturday, with Pedro Neto scoring both goals to hand Xabi Alonso’s side back-to-back Premier League victories and their first clean sheet in 23 matches. The result, however, was overshadowed by a serious injury to goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was stretchered off wearing a neck brace and receiving oxygen before being taken to hospital.
Chelsea left Merseyside with all three points on Saturday, but the afternoon will be remembered as much for a frightening injury scare as for Pedro Neto’s matchwinning brace. The Blues ended a run of 23 matches without a clean sheet in a 2-0 win at Hill Dickinson Stadium, but the result was overshadowed when goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was carried off the pitch on a stretcher.
Neto Breaks the Deadlock Immediately After the Restart
The first half was a tense, physical affair that produced few clear-cut chances despite ending goalless. Everton midfielder Harrison Armstrong threw himself into a crunching tackle on Josh Acheampong early on, picking up a booking but getting the home crowd on their feet. Thierno Barry nodded an early header straight into Martinez’s arms, and the Argentine goalkeeper later tipped a dipping Jack Grealish effort over the bar, while Moises Caicedo rattled the Everton woodwork with a thunderous volley at the other end.
Chelsea wasted no time finding a breakthrough after the interval. The visitors took the second-half kickoff and surged straight down the left flank, where Jorrel Hato’s cross was coolly slotted home by Pedro Neto just 45 seconds into the half to make it 1-0.
Everton nearly responded instantly. Morgan Rogers latched onto a Neto cross moments later looking to double Chelsea’s lead himself, only for a perfectly timed block from Merlin Rohl to deny him. From there, Chelsea took control, limiting Everton’s attacking threat and pushing to see out the result.
Martinez Injury Mars the Afternoon
The game’s defining moment arrived midway through the second half, and it had nothing to do with the scoreline. As Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall prepared to take a free-kick, Martinez collided at speed with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. Both players needed lengthy treatment, but it was Martinez who bore the worst of it — the Argentina international was eventually stretchered off wearing a neck brace and receiving oxygen before being taken to hospital for further assessment.
Highly-rated young goalkeeper Mike Penders came on in his place, making his Premier League debut under the worst possible circumstances.
Neto Seals It, and Everton’s Unbeaten Start Ends
With Everton pushing for an equalizer in the closing stages, Chelsea put the result beyond doubt in the 90th minute. A Jordan Henderson free-kick for the hosts was blocked, and the loose ball fell kindly to Neto, who calmly slotted home his second of the afternoon to make it 2-0 and complete his brace.
Tempers flared throughout a feisty, combative encounter that saw six yellow cards shown. Moises Caicedo and Jack Grealish went toe-to-toe from the opening whistle, former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was booed by the home fans every time he touched the ball, and James Tarkowski was confronted by Morgan Rogers after shoving Caicedo to the ground. Rogers himself later left James Garner in a heap following an aggressive fifty-fifty challenge.
What It Means
The win marks back-to-back Premier League victories for Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea for the first time since the second week of the season, and ends a striking run of statistics for the Blues: their first clean sheet since January 17, their first away win of the campaign, and only their third goal in nine visits to Everton. For Everton, it was their first defeat of the season, ending an unbeaten start to the campaign on home soil.
Attention now turns to the severity of Martinez’s injury, with Chelsea awaiting further updates from the hospital as they continue their push up the Premier League table.
