That 1-0 lead Chelsea had against Everton? It became an afterthought in the 73rd minute when goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez went down hard after a brutal collision with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. The scene was immediately concerning as Martinez, who had come off his line to collect an aerial cross, clashed heads with Branthwaite. Both players stayed down, but while Branthwaite eventually got back on his feet after a couple of minutes, Martinez remained on his back, requiring urgent attention.
Martinez Off on Stretcher as Team Physios Act With Caution
The Chelsea medical staff worked with extreme caution around Martinez on the pitch. He received oxygen there before a stretcher was called. It was about 10 agonizing minutes after the collision before the Argentinian World Cup winner was finally carried off the field and taken straight down the tunnel. Broadcaster TNT Sports, showing incredible restraint, decided against replaying the gruesome clash of heads. Reports from TNT Sports indicated Martinez was immediately transported to a local hospital in Liverpool. A small positive sign emerged as he appeared conscious and was moving his arms while being stretchered off.
Neto Dedicates Hard-Fought Victory to Injured Teammate
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso spoke to TNT Sports right after the match, confirming Martinez left the stadium conscious and was heading to the hospital for precautionary tests. He said that was all he knew for now. Belgian reserve goalkeeper Mike Penders stepped in to make his Premier League debut, replacing Martinez in the 73rd minute with Chelsea still up 1-0. Branthwaite, meanwhile, was cleared to continue for Everton after their physios performed concussion checks right there on the field. When play resumed, Pedro Neto didn’t waste any time, scoring his second goal of the game to double Chelsea’s lead and lock in a 2-0 victory on Merseyside. This win marked Chelsea’s first away victory of the season and, even better, their first Premier League clean sheet in nine months, dating back to a 2-0 win over Brentford on January 17. However, the win was entirely overshadowed by Martinez’s scary injury, and the team’s thoughts immediately went to their teammate. Neto, the match-winner, dedicated the victory and the clean sheet to Martinez. He told TNT Sports, “We are really pleased. It is a shame for Emi but we wish him all the best. This win is for him. We are really happy but of course our thoughts are for him.” Neto added, “It’s in his honour. We needed a clean sheet. We needed a good game. Emi deserved this. Mike who came in deserved this as well. So we are really happy.” Martinez, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022, was making just his sixth appearance for Chelsea since joining the Blues from Aston Villa in August.
Even with their first away win and a clean sheet in months, it’s clear where Chelsea’s collective mind is. All eyes are on Martinez’s recovery, and we’re all pulling for him to be back on the pitch soon. That’s what this victory truly means right now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply