Chelsea secured a narrow victory over Pafos on Wednesday night thanks to a decisive late intervention from Moises Caicedo.
The hosts thought they had found an early breakthrough when Enzo Fernandez steered a header home, only for the official to penalize the midfielder for a shove on Ken Sema.
While Chelsea controlled the lion’s share of possession, they were nearly caught out when Jaja’s deflected strike rattled the woodwork in the opening period.
Despite a string of heroic saves from Pafos keeper Jay Gorter, Caicedo eventually found the net 12 minutes from time to ensure the points remained at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea Player Ratings
Filip Jorgensen – 6
The Danish shot-stopper was largely a spectator during the first half, though he showed calmness under pressure when dealing with a testing back-pass from Malo Gusto. His night was cut short, however, as an apparent injury forced him off at the interval.
Malo Gusto – 6
Returning to the starting XI after a three-match layoff, the Frenchman looked steady if not spectacular. His highlight was a perfectly timed sliding challenge that stifled a promising Pafos counter-attack, successfully shaking off any lingering rust.
Wesley Fofana – 7
After a somewhat hesitant opening few minutes, the center-back grew in stature as the game progressed. He proved vital at both ends, eventually providing the crucial assist that allowed Caicedo to head home the winner.
Benoit Badiashile – 6
The defender displayed great confidence, frequently stepping out of the backline into midfield to recycle possession. He was unlucky not to record an assist after a creative foray forward, but Estevao failed to convert the resulting chance.
Jorrel Hato – 6
Handed a start following some impressive cameos, the youngster looked comfortable in the left-back role. While he missed a decent opportunity to score just before the break, his defensive positioning and energy were consistent throughout.
Reece James – 6
Back in the side after a brief absence, the captain put in a workmanlike performance. He distributed the ball efficiently and provided a veteran presence on the right before being rotated out at halftime to manage his workload.
Moises Caicedo – 8
The standout performer for the Blues, Caicedo was a whirlwind of activity from the first whistle. While he hasn’t reached his peak form recently, he was “a step closer to that” tonight, capping a high-intensity performance with the vital match-winning goal.
Pedro Neto – 5
It was a night of frustration for the Portuguese winger, who seemed to be overthinking his actions in the final third. Despite his clear effort to force an opening, very little went his way in what became another disappointing outing.
Enzo Fernandez – 7
The Argentine was one of Chelsea’s most creative outlets, notably carving out a major chance for James early on. He was “extremely unfortunate” to see his goal chalked off for a minor foul, as his overall play deserved a clinical reward.
Alejandro Garnacho – 4
While his work rate remained high, the winger struggled to make any meaningful impact on the left flank. His direct style was “far too easy to read” for the Pafos defense, leading to a toothless and predictable performance.
Liam Delap – 4
The striker endured a lonely night leading the line and was “virtually invisible” for much of the first half. Though he showed some promise with his hold-up play, he never looked like a genuine threat to the opposition goal.