The key facts

  • Pedro Neto scored a brace: the first goal early in the second half, the second in added time
  • Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez suffered a head injury in a collision with Branthwaite and was taken to hospital
  • Chelsea kept a clean sheet in the Premier League for the first time in 22 matches and moved into the top four

Neto's brace brings Chelsea victory

Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 away at Hill Dickinson Stadium, handing their opponents their first defeat of the season — Everton had gone unbeaten until then. Both goals were scored by Pedro Neto: he opened the scoring in the first minute of the second half, finishing a low cutback from Jorrel Hato from the byline, and then sealed the win in the 11 added minutes, which were granted after the lengthy treatment of the injured goalkeeper, coolly striking into the bottom corner after Jordan Henderson's blocked free kick.

Martinez injury

The match was marred by an injury to Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez. The Argentina international collided heads with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, suffered a serious injury and was taken to hospital. He was replaced by Belgian Mike Penders, for whom it was a Premier League debut; according to AFP, he barely had to get involved, only dealing with a few opposition crosses.

Course of the match

After a calm start, the game heated up when Everton midfielder Harrison Armstrong made a harsh challenge on Josh Acheampong — the first of five yellow cards in the first half. Thierno Barry missed a good chance, directing a header from Jack Grealish's cross too close to Martinez. Chelsea under Xabi Alonso, known for fast starts, first posed a real threat only four minutes before the break, when Moises Caicedo hit the crossbar from a corner. Everton was outraged that Morgan Rogers escaped a second yellow card shortly before the break after a hard collision with James Garner.

A clean sheet and the standings

Chelsea had not kept a clean sheet in the Premier League for 22 matches — since January — but in this game the team rarely came under Everton's pressure, as the hosts, despite losing Martinez, had few attacking options. At the other end, Jordan Pickford made a fine save from Joao Pedro's shot. The win lifted Chelsea above Everton into the Premier League top four.