Chelsea beat Everton as Martínez injury overshadows win

Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, ending Everton’s unbeaten start to the season and handing Chelsea their first league clean sheet in nine months.

Pedro Neto opened the scoring 43 seconds into the second half and added a second in the 90th minute. Chelsea’s second-half display gave Xabi Alonso’s side control of the match after a competitive opening period.

The win was overshadowed by an injury to Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martínez. He was stretchered off after colliding with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite while trying to deal with a free-kick, then taken to hospital for precautionary tests.

Martínez has since undergone surgery after the injury, with an update indicating he is expected to be back in a few weeks. The available details do not specify a return date.

There was also a disputed moment before half-time when Chelsea’s Morgan Rogers challenged Everton’s James Garner. Rogers had already been booked; VAR checked the incident and upheld the referee’s decision not to send him off.

Everton manager David Moyes said Merlin Rohl was selected to counter the threat of Chelsea left-back Pep Chavarria, whom Everton expected to start. Chavarria did not play, and Moyes said Rohl looked more effective after moving to right-back, where he delivered a couple of good crosses.

Moyes also said he hopes Garner can return to the form he showed last season. Garner had been named Everton’s Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season after featuring in 41 matches in all competitions.

Chelsea beat Everton as Martínez injury overshadows win

Reporting

People also searched