Chelsea’s second successive Premier League win came with a sobering note at Everton, where a composed 2-0 victory was overshadowed by the injury suffered by Emiliano Martínez. Pedro Neto struck at the start of the second half and again in the 90th minute, lifting Xabi Alonso’s side into a provisional fourth place on 10 points, level with Everton but above them in the table.
Neto gives Chelsea the edge at Goodison Park
Alonso kept faith with the side that had beaten Bournemouth 5-1, making only one enforced alteration after Pep Chavarría’s injury. There was little between the teams for much of a tight first half, although Chelsea gradually found the more dangerous moments.
- Martínez made an important stop in the 27th minute, denying Barry from close range after a header appeared destined for goal.
- Rogers avoided a sending-off following a contentious challenge on Garner.
- Moisés Caicedo nearly produced a spectacular opener in the 40th minute, his volley from Henderson’s corner crashing against the crossbar.
- Deep into first-half added time, Armstrong cleared Lacroix’s effort off the line from another Chelsea corner.
The breakthrough arrived immediately after the interval. Rogers flicked the ball with his heel into the path of Hato, whose run and low square pass left Neto with the straightforward task of finishing from close range in the 46th minute.
Martínez injury halts the contest
The game changed in mood rather than direction in the 65th minute, when Martínez went down after a heavy collision with Branthwaite. The Argentine goalkeeper, formerly of Aston Villa, remained conscious but left the field on a stretcher and fully immobilised.
Play was held up for a lengthy period while he received treatment. There were few meaningful chances after the restart, with the concern around Martínez taking the edge out of a contest Everton had hoped might extend their strongest opening to a season since 2006-07.
Late second seals a rare clean sheet
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford kept his side alive in the 86th minute, saving at point-blank range from João Pedro after Cole Palmer had carried a Chelsea counter-attack forward.
But Neto settled it on the stroke of 90 minutes. Henderson’s free-kick struck the defensive wall and dropped loose, allowing the Portugal forward to pounce for his second of the afternoon before a substantial period of added time.
Penders took over in goal for the closing stages, and Chelsea saw out their first Premier League clean sheet in 22 matches. For Alonso, there was plenty to like in a side beginning to find some rhythm: six goals across two league wins, a return to the top four for now, and one significant concern awaiting the medical update on Martínez.
