Moises Caicedo’s late aim gave Chelsea an important 1-0 win towards Cypriot minnows Pafos on Wednesday because the Blues moved nearer to computerized qualification for the Champions League final 16.
In Liam Rosenior’s first Champions League recreation as Chelsea boss, Caicedo netted within the closing phases at Stamford Bridge to finish Pafos’ cussed resistance.
Chelsea’s fourth victory from seven Champions League group stage matches lifted them into eighth place.
A win at Napoli of their last group recreation on January 28 would probably be sufficient to ship Chelsea by to the final 16, relying on different outcomes.
The Blues would face the undesirable stress of a play-off spherical in the event that they end outdoors the highest eight.
Rosenior has gained thrice and misplaced as soon as in his first 4 video games since arriving from Strasbourg to switch Enzo Maresca, who left Stamford Bridge after mounting tensions with the membership’s hierarchy.
It was removed from plain crusing for Rosenior as Chelsea struggled to discover a well past impressed Pafos keeper Jay Gorter earlier than Caicedo made the breakthrough.
Optimistic Chelsea followers have famous their two Champions League triumphs in 2012 and 2021 got here after they modified supervisor in mid-season.
However there’s a lengthy approach to go earlier than Rosenior can hope to emulate these iconic victories masterminded by Roberto Di Matteo and Thomas Tuchel.
Chelsea have been regular fairly than eye-catching thus far underneath Rosenior, with far sterner checks mendacity in wait within the shock selection to switch Maresca.
– Wake-up name –
Rosenior made six modifications from the 2-0 win over Brentford on Saturday, with injured England ahead Cole Palmer absent attributable to a slight pressure.
Brazilian veteran David Luiz, a 2012 Champions League winner with Chelsea, was on the bench for Pafos, who had been removed from overawed of their first ever match towards English opposition.
Chelsea laboured for lengthy durations and even when Enzo Fernandez had the ball within the web within the 18th minute, the midfielder’s close-range header was disallowed for a push.
Chelsea practically gifted Pafos a shock opener when a wayward back-pass to Filip Jorgensen was virtually intercepted by Anderson Silva, however the Blues keeper chested the ball away from hazard.
Rosenior’s males had misplaced their momentum and Pafos went shut when Jaja’s shot from simply inside the realm took a depraved deflection off Reece James and hit the submit with Jorgensen rooted to the spot.
That near-miss served as a wake-up name and Caicedo’s blast was pushed away by Gorter earlier than Benoit Badiashile glanced a header narrowly vast moments later.
Caicedo’s long-range drive pressured one other good cease from Gorter, who additionally repelled Jorrel Hato’s fierce strike simply earlier than half-time.
Frustration was mounting amongst Chelsea supporters and Rosenior made a double change on the break, sending on Robert Sanchez for Jorgensen and Estevao Willian for James.
Estevao practically made an immediate affect with a stinging volley that Gorter saved at full stretch.
Gorter was having fun with the sport of his life and he denied Pedro Neto and Caicedo with two extra positive saves.
To Rosenior’s immense reduction, Chelsea lastly discovered a well past Gorter within the 78th minute.
Pafos couldn’t clear a nook and Caicedo arrived to flick his header into the far nook from shut vary.
The submit UCL: Caicedo strikes late as Chelsea edge Pafos 1-0 appeared first on Vanguard News.
