Moises Caicedo struck late to hand Chelsea a crucial 1-0 victory over Cypriot minnows Pafos on Wednesday, moving the Blues a step closer to automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16.
In Liam Rosenior’s first Champions League match as Chelsea manager, Caicedo’s decisive effort in the closing stages at Stamford Bridge finally broke stubborn Pafos resistance after a frustrating evening for the hosts.
The win, Chelsea’s fourth from seven group-stage fixtures lifted them into eighth place in the standings. Victory away at Napoli in their final group game on January 28 should be enough to secure a top-eight finish and direct passage to the knockout phase, depending on other results. Failure to do so would leave the Blues facing the uncertainty of a play-off round.
Rosenior has made a solid start since replacing Enzo Maresca, winning three of his first four matches after arriving from Strasbourg following Maresca’s departure amid mounting tensions with the club’s hierarchy.
However, there was little to suggest an easy night for the new boss as Chelsea struggled to find a way past an inspired Pafos goalkeeper Jay Gorter, who produced a series of outstanding saves before finally being beaten.
Chelsea supporters, mindful that the club’s Champions League triumphs in 2012 and 2021 both followed mid-season managerial changes, have reason for optimism. Yet Rosenior still has a long road ahead if he is to emulate the achievements of Roberto Di Matteo and Thomas Tuchel.
Under Rosenior, Chelsea have been solid rather than spectacular so far, with sterner tests to come for the surprise appointment.
Wake-up call
Rosenior made six changes from Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League win over Brentford, with England forward Cole Palmer sidelined by a minor strain.
Pafos, featuring former Chelsea defender David Luiz on the bench, were undaunted in their first-ever meeting with English opposition and quickly showed they would not be overawed.
Chelsea thought they had taken the lead in the 18th minute when Enzo Fernandez headed home from close range, only for the goal to be ruled out for a push. The hosts then nearly gifted Pafos a shock opener when a stray back-pass almost allowed Anderson Silva in, but Filip Jorgensen reacted quickly to chest the ball clear.
Momentum continued to ebb and Pafos came agonisingly close when Jaja’s effort deflected off Reece James and struck the post with Jorgensen beaten.
That scare jolted Chelsea into life. Caicedo forced a smart save from Gorter before Benoit Badiashile glanced a header narrowly wide, while further long-range efforts from Caicedo and Jorrel Hato were also repelled by the Pafos keeper before half-time.
With frustration growing among the home crowd, Rosenior made a double change at the interval, introducing Robert Sanchez and Estevao Willian. The latter nearly made an immediate impact, firing a volley that Gorter tipped away at full stretch.
Gorter continued to frustrate Chelsea, denying Pedro Neto and Caicedo once more, but the breakthrough finally arrived in the 78th minute. Pafos failed to clear a corner and Caicedo reacted quickest, flicking a close-range header into the far corner to settle the contest.
AFP
