Pedro Neto scored twice as Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, handing the hosts their first defeat of the Premier League season and lifting the visitors into the top four.
Neto broke the deadlock shortly after half-time before sealing the victory deep into stoppage time, in a match overshadowed by a serious head injury to goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
Martinez was taken to hospital after a heavy head collision with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, with the lengthy treatment contributing to 11 minutes of added time.
Chelsea made the breakthrough less than a minute into the second half when Jorrel Hato reached the byline and delivered a low cross that Neto controlled before firing past Jordan Pickford.
The visitors had struggled to create clear chances in the first half, although Moises Caicedo came close to opening the scoring when his effort from a well-worked corner struck the crossbar shortly before the interval.
Everton had enjoyed periods of pressure, but striker Thierno Barry missed a promising opportunity when he headed Jack Grealish’s cross straight at Martinez.
The first half was also marked by several contentious challenges, with five yellow cards shown. Everton were particularly aggrieved when Morgan Rogers avoided a second booking following a collision with James Garner just before half-time.
Chelsea took control after the break and limited Everton’s attacking threat, despite Martinez’s departure forcing Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders to make his first Premier League appearance.
Pickford kept Everton in the contest with a fine save to deny Joao Pedro, but Neto eventually put the result beyond doubt during stoppage time.
After Jordan Henderson’s free-kick was blocked by the Chelsea wall, the ball fell into Neto’s path and the Portuguese winger calmly slotted it into the bottom corner.
The victory also ended Chelsea’s run of 22 consecutive Premier League matches without a clean sheet, dating back to January.
The result moved Chelsea above Everton and into the league’s top four, while the hosts suffered their first loss of the campaign.
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