Chelsea ended their nine-month wait for a Premier League clean sheet with a 2-0 victory over Everton, despite losing goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to injury during the match.
Pedro Neto scored in the 46th minute before sealing the win with a second goal in the 90th minute, giving Chelsea back-to-back league victories and their first Premier League shutout of the season.
The result was particularly significant for a side that had struggled to keep opponents from scoring. Chelsea’s previous league clean sheet came against Brentford in January, leaving them waiting months for another game in which they could finish without conceding.
That wait finally ended at Everton, but not without a setback.
Martinez was forced off after suffering an injury, leaving Chelsea to turn to substitute goalkeeper Mike Penders. The change brought added pressure as Chelsea sought to protect their lead, but Everton failed to find a way past the replacement.
Neto’s second goal in the closing minute settled any lingering doubt over the result, allowing Chelsea to finish the game with both the victory and the long-awaited clean sheet intact.
For Chelsea, the win offered more than three points. After months of conceding in league matches, they finally managed to shut out an opponent, even after an unexpected change in goal.
Martinez’s condition will be worth watching, but Penders’ introduction did not derail Chelsea’s afternoon. Instead, the goalkeeper change became part of a result that could give the team fresh confidence as the season progresses.