Chelsea’s 1-0 win at Everton was overshadowed by a frightening second-half injury to Emiliano Martínez, whose collision with Jarrad Branthwaite brought play to a halt for more than ten minutes at Goodison Park.
In the dressing room
The incident came in the 65th minute, with Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea holding a narrow lead. Everton had a free-kick from the flank and sent the ball into the six-yard area, where Martínez came out to punch clear.
In doing so, the Argentine goalkeeper collided head-first with Branthwaite. The Everton centre-back was left shaken and bleeding from the mouth, while Martínez’s fall immediately caused concern among players on both sides.
Medical staff from Chelsea and Everton quickly entered the pitch. Martínez received treatment for over ten minutes before being taken away on a stretcher wearing a neck brace and receiving oxygen.
| Fixture | Result | Key moment |
|---|---|---|
| Everton v Chelsea | 0-1 | Martínez injured in 65th-minute collision with Branthwaite |
Operation successful
Martínez was taken to hospital, where he underwent immediate surgery on a fractured jaw. The operation was completed successfully, and the goalkeeper later confirmed that he was recovering well after waking from the anaesthetic.
“Thank you for all the messages. The operation went well,” Martínez said.
He also kept his focus on the result, with a little humour after a sobering afternoon on Merseyside. “The important thing is that we won and kept a clean sheet. I’ll be back in a few weeks.”
The week ahead
Chelsea leave Goodison Park with the points and a clean sheet, but their attention will now turn to Martínez’s recovery and how they cover his absence over the coming weeks. For Everton, Branthwaite’s condition will also need monitoring after a collision that left the ground silent long before the final whistle.
