Pedro Neto scored twice in the second half as Chelsea won 2-0 at Everton in the Premier League on Saturday, ending the hosts’ unbeaten start and moving into the top four, but goalkeeper Emi MartÃnez was stretchered off and taken to hospital.
LIVERPOOL, Oct 17 — Chelsea won their first away match of the Premier League season, beating Everton 2-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and ending the hosts’ unbeaten start.
Neto strikes twice
The first half was goalless and ill-tempered, with five yellow cards shown. Everton captain James Tarkowski was booked in the 34th minute for barging Moisés Caicedo, and Chelsea’s Morgan Rogers was booked in the same incident. Rogers was lucky to avoid a second yellow in the 42nd minute after a challenge on James Garner, a decision VAR upheld. Caicedo also hit the bar from a corner shortly before the break.
Chelsea scored 43 seconds into the second half, in the 46th minute. Jorrel Hato reached the byline and his low cross found Neto, who controlled it and beat Jordan Pickford. Pickford later made a fine save to deny João Pedro. Neto added his second in the 90th minute, collecting a loose ball after Jordan Henderson’s free-kick and stroking it into the bottom corner for his first Premier League brace.
MartÃnez injury
MartÃnez collided with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite in the 66th minute while competing for a cross. After nearly nine minutes of treatment he was stretchered off in the 74th minute, and Mike Penders came on to make his Premier League debut. Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso said MartÃnez left the stadium conscious and was in hospital for precautionary tests, and Neto said the win was for the goalkeeper.
What it means
Chelsea kept their first Premier League clean sheet in 23 games and moved above Everton into the top four, with 13 points from their first seven matches. It was Everton’s first defeat of the season. David Moyes questioned why Rogers was not punished in the first half and said Chelsea showed more flair in the key moments. Chelsea also lost captain Reece James for around three months earlier this week, as we reported.
Result: Everton 0-2 Chelsea (Premier League, Hill Dickinson Stadium). Chelsea: Neto 46′, 90′.
