It is all to play for in Naples next week for Chelsea after Liam Rosenior’s Champions League debut ended with a 1-0 victory over Pafos at Stamford Bridge.
Moises Caicedo was the hero for the Blues with his header on 78 minutes proving the difference between the two sides. Wesley Fofana flicked the ball on from a corner and Caicedo was able to guide his header into the bottom corner.
Rosenior, who was making his Champions League managerial debut, made six changes to his Chelsea side after the weekend’s win over Brentford. The most notable bit of team news was in the form of Cole Palmer being left out of the squad.
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After completing 90 minutes on Saturday, Palmer felt “a little tightness” in his thigh and missed out on Wednesday as a precautionary measure, though Rosenior is hopeful he will return for Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace.
It was a slow start to the game for both teams with Reece James having the first half chance, but the Chelsea captain’s strike from the edge of the box went narrowly wide.
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Enzo Fernandez thought he gave the Blues the lead with a header into the bottom corner but the Argentine was adjudged to have pushed Ken Sema in the back.
The best chance of the first-half fell to Pafos. Jaja’s shot deflected off James and hit the post, with the visitors adamant they should have had a penalty for a handball from the Chelsea skipper, but the referee shook his head immediately.
Moises Caicedo came close to giving Chelsea the lead on 35 minutes but was denied from close range by a strong Jay Gorter save.
Jorrel Hato then had a chance at the end of the first-half but it was well saved by Gorter again, with the two teams going into the break goalless.
Alejandro Garnacho had a great chance to put Chelsea ahead in the second-half after being played through by Wesley Fofana but Derrick Luckassen produced a crucial block.
Estevao Willian, on as a substitute at half-time, had a couple of decent opportunities for the Blues but it was Caicedo that gave his team the advantage with 12 minutes of normal time remaining.
The Ecuadorian placed his header well after a big leap from Fofana to set him up. Chelsea go into next week’s deciding game away at Napoli inside the top eight on goal difference, with ninth-place Barcelona level on points.
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