Pedro Neto scored twice as Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, handing the hosts their opening loss of the campaign. The result was overshadowed by a serious head injury suffered by Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
Neto put Chelsea ahead within the first minute after the restart. He then added his second in the 11 minutes of stoppage time, which followed a lengthy delay for Martinez to receive treatment. The Argentina international collided heads with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite and was taken to hospital.
Chelsea’s first away win and clean sheet
The victory lifted Chelsea above Everton into the top four and marked their first win on the road this season. It was also their first clean sheet in 23 Premier League matches, a run that had stretched back to January.
Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso said Martinez had left the stadium conscious and was undergoing precautionary tests in hospital. Speaking after the game, Alonso said the side had needed a result like this away from home. “We needed one of these wins away,” he said, praising the team’s professionalism and solidity.
Alonso added that Chelsea must keep many more clean sheets in the remaining league fixtures. He said the first shutout of the season felt good and that the team had to keep building on it.
Early flashpoints and Moyes’s verdict on Everton
The match was slow to start, but it grew heated after Everton midfielder Harrison Armstrong went in hard on Josh Acheampong. That tackle was the first of five yellow cards shown in the first half. It also roused the home crowd and sparked Everton’s best spell of the contest.
Everton striker Thierno Barry was wasteful again, heading a Jack Grealish cross too close to Martinez. Chelsea, who have often started quickly under Alonso, did not threaten until four minutes before half-time, when Moises Caicedo struck the bar from a well-worked corner. Everton were angry shortly before the break when Morgan Rogers avoided a second booking after a heavy challenge on England teammate James Garner.
That decision proved costly for Everton, as Chelsea came out sharply after the interval. Jorrel Hato reached the byline and found Neto, who controlled the ball and drilled a low finish past Jordan Pickford. Chelsea were rarely troubled afterwards, even with Martinez off.
Everton boss David Moyes said his side had lacked quality at key moments. “I just felt that Chelsea had that little bit more flair and ability which we didn’t possess at the right moments today,” he said.
Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders replaced Martinez for his first Premier League appearance and had little to do beyond dealing with a few Everton crosses. Pickford made a fine save to deny Joao Pedro at the other end. Chelsea added their second when Jordan Henderson’s free kick was blocked by the Everton wall and Neto stroked the rebound into the bottom corner.
Speaking to TNT Sports after his first Premier League brace, Neto said the team was delighted but sorry for Martinez. He said the win was for the goalkeeper, adding that Martinez and Penders both deserved credit.
