Chelsea secured their first victory in the Premier League and a golden point in the fight for the European places after beating Everton 2‑0 at the Goodison stadium. Portuguese winger Pedro Neto's double, scored in the second half, was decisive for Xabi Alonso's team to keep a clean sheet during the season.
The match started in a very balanced way. During the first 17 minutes there was no shot, no shot between the three sticks, not even a corner. Everton tried to create chances with Grealish on the left wing, while Chelsea looked for chances from outside the box, but Pickford's defense held firm. The second half became more intense, with a header from Tierno Barry almost scoring a goal, and a fingertip shot from Caicedo leaving Pickford's goal trembling. However, the match was interrupted when Everton goalkeeper 'Dibu' Martínez suffered a severe collision with Branthwaite and had to be taken off on a stretcher. Young Mike Penders replaced him after a ten-minute break.
Despite the interruption, Chelsea took advantage of the remaining time to take the lead. In the 45th minute+1, Pedro Neto finished off a shot from distance that Pickford cleared for a corner. Just 30 seconds later, Neto himself took advantage of a ball centered by Hato and scored the first goal of the game, leaving Everton without an answer. The second goal came in the 90th minute, when Neto scored again after a rebound in the small area, sealing the victory.
The result leaves Chelsea with three points and maintains its position at the top of the table, while Everton, who had maintained an unbeaten streak, falls in the standings and must look for a response in their next matches. The match also stood out for the absence of the Everton goal, which was affected by the injury of 'Dibu' Martínez, and for the performance of the players who managed to remain calm after the interruption. The next step for Chelsea will be to consolidate its position in the fight for Europe, while Everton will have to adjust its strategy to avoid more defeats.