Moises Caicedo scored the decisive goal as Chelsea secured a 1-0 win over Pafos on Wednesday evening, leaving it late to claim the victory.
Chelsea thought they had taken an early lead through Enzo Fernandez, but the goal was ruled out for a push on defender Ken Sema in the buildup.
First-Half Action
Pafos nearly opened the scoring after a deflected shot from Jaja hit the post.
Chelsea dominated possession in the first half, with Pafos goalkeeper Jay Gorter performing strongly to keep the match level.
Second-Half Heroics
Caicedo’s header 12 minutes from time proved decisive, highlighting his influence after an otherwise subdued start to the season.
Player Performances
Filip Jorgensen replaced Robert Sanchez but suffered an injury at half-time after limited first-half action.
Malo Gusto returned from injury and made a key sliding tackle, contributing solidly to the defensive effort.
Wesley Fofana overcame an early nervous start to assist Caicedo’s goal, earning praise for growing into the match.
Benoit Badiashile was aggressive in midfield, stepping up to regain possession multiple times.
Jorrel Hato had a strong performance at left-back despite missing a scoring chance before half-time.
Reece James came off at half-time after an average display, while Pedro Neto struggled to make an impact despite his efforts.
Enzo Fernandez had a strong showing in the No.10 role, creating multiple opportunities and proving unlucky with his disallowed early goal.
Alejandro Garnacho worked hard off the ball but was largely ineffective, while Liam Delap struggled to influence play.
Estevao Willian made an immediate impact off the bench, testing the goalkeeper with a volley and creating scoring opportunities.
Robert Sanchez made a crucial save late in the game, and Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro, and Marc Cucurella contributed with solid, if unspectacular, performances off the bench.
Match Summary
Chelsea dominated much of the contest but needed Caicedo’s intervention to secure all three points.
The win maintains momentum as the Blues prepare for upcoming Champions League fixtures, with several key players returning from injury in time for future matches.
