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A late Moises Caicedo header gave Chelsea a hard-fought 1-0 win over minnows Pafos and boosted their automatic qualification hopes for the Champions League last 16.
Defeat in Enzo Maresca’s final Champions League game in charge away to Atalanta in December has given Chelsea work to do to avoid a two-leg play-off but this narrow win in head coach Liam Rosenior’s first experience of the competition moved them up to eighth on goal difference.
There still remains big pressure on next Wednesday’s trip to Antonio Conte’s Napoli, with eight teams level on 13 points and five more within three points of the Blues’ tally, but automatic progression – and avoiding a fixture pile-up in February – is in Chelsea’s hands.
Rosenior’s first taste of a Champions League game had been a frustrating one for 78 minutes, with Enzo Fernandez seeing a first-half header ruled out for a push and Pafos goalkeeper Jay Gorter pulling off a string of saves – including three to deny Caicedo – for the stubborn visitors.
The Cypriot champions even struck the woodwork at the other end, with a Jaja strike deflecting off Reece James’ arm and onto a post. Penalty appeals from the visitors were rightly waved away, given the Blues’ captain’s arm was tucked into his chest, but it was a warning for Chelsea.
Estevao was brought on at half-time to try to provide some spark for a Chelsea team missing the rested Cole Palmer but a fierce volley from the Brazilian was saved by Gorter before Bruno made a goal-saving block. Defender Derrick Luckassen then flew in to prevent Alejandro Garnacho from scoring.
But just as Chelsea nerves began to jangle and concerns about them missing out on a top-eight finish rose, Caicedo met a corner unintentionally flicked on by Pafos’ Nany Dimata to nod in the decisive goal and give Rosenior an ideal start in to life in this competition. Former Blues boss Conte now stands in his way.
More to follow…
