Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 in the Premier League on Saturday thanks to a double from Pedro Neto, as the London club provisionally moved up to fourth in a game overshadowed by an injury to goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
Chelsea have had a knack for scoring goals early in games this season but were kept at bay by Everton in a feisty and physical first half that produced five yellow cards and several heated exchanges.
But Xabi Alonso’s side needed just 43 seconds after the restart to go 1-0 up when Jorrel Hato cut the ball back from the byline to find an unmarked Neto, who swept home into the bottom corner.
The game was paused for several minutes in the second half when Chelsea’s Martinez was taken off on a stretcher following a clash of heads with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, with the Argentina international taken to hospital.
Chelsea doubled their lead in the 90th minute when Neto pounced on a loose ball after Jordan Henderson’s free kick was blocked by the wall, finding the bottom corner with a composed finish as Everton suffered their first defeat of the season.
21-year-old goal keeper Mike Penders, who was making his Premier League debut, managed to help Chelsea keep a clean sheet in the league for the first time since January.
The victory ended a run of 22 games without a clean sheet.
“We are really pleased. Shame for Emi but we wish you all the best. This win is for him,” Portuguese winger Neto said in an interview after his first Premier League brace.
“We need a clean sheet, to be honest. I think we did a very good game. Emi deserved this, Mike did as well.”
