Chelsea boosted their chances of a Champions League top-eight finish on Wednesday when Moises Caicedo headed home from a corner in the 78th minute to break down a stubborn Pafos defence.
The London side squeezed into eighth in the table on goal difference with one match to go – a tough away game at Napoli, managed by former boss Antonio Conte.
Chelsea, led by new coach Liam Rosenior in his first Champions League game, enjoyed more than 70 per cent possession against the highly organised Pafos team.
The Cypriot club was backed up by Dutch goalkeeper Jay Gorter, who pulled off a series of fine saves, including three earlier bullet attempts from Ecuadorean midfielder Caicedo.
His goal from a Pedro Neto corner finally broke the deadlock, earning Chelsea the chance to go straight through to the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
It was a largely frustrating night for Chelsea, which had to win to stand a chance of making the top eight and would have hoped for more goals against the Cypriot champion.
The Blues, winners of the competition in 2012 and 2021, are one of eight teams on 13 points in the table so goal difference is crucial. They face Napoli next Wednesday.
Pafos, which hit the post in the first half after a shot from Jaja bounced off Chelsea captain Reece James, dropped to 30th in the table with six points so far.
WISSA BREAKS THE DUCK IN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Yoane Wissa scored his first Champions League goal as Newcastle United eased to a 3-0 home win over PSV Eindhoven at St. James’ Park on Wednesday, though the visiting side was the architect of its own downfall in a poor defensive display.
Newcastle moved up to seventh in the table with 13 points from its seven games and remains on course for automatic qualification for the last 16. PSV is in 22nd place with eight points and will have work to do to advance to the knockout stages.
Yoane Wissa, who moved from Brentford to Newcastle United in September last year, scored his first UEFA Champions League goal, against the Dutch champion, PSV Eindhoven.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Yoane Wissa, who moved from Brentford to Newcastle United in September last year, scored his first UEFA Champions League goal, against the Dutch champion, PSV Eindhoven.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
PSV’s hesitancy at the back handed Newcastle two goals before half-time, the first converted by Wissa on eight minutes before Anthony Gordon was the beneficiary from another error by the visitors to make it 2-0 on the half-hour mark.
Newcastle suffered a blow when captain Bruno Guimaraes limped off just before the break with an ankle injury, but it added a third goal on 65 minutes through Harvey Barnes in a dominant display against the Dutch champion.
Published on Jan 22, 2026
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