SOCCER: Chelsea's Caicedo scores to break stubborn Pafos defence

LONDON — Chelsea boosted their chances of finishing in the top eight of the Champions League group stage on Wednesday when Moises Caicedo headed in from a corner in the 78th minute, breaking down a stubborn Pafos defense.

The London club moved into eighth place in the table on goal difference, with one match remaining — a tough away game against 25th-placed Napoli, now managed by former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.

Chelsea, led by new coach Liam Rosenior in his first Champions League match, controlled the game with more than 70% possession against the well-organized Pafos side.

Dutch goalkeeper Jay Gorter played a key role in the win, making a series of strong saves, including three earlier powerful attempts from Caicedo.

Caicedo finally broke the deadlock with a header from a Pedro Neto corner, giving Chelsea the opportunity to qualify directly for the knockout rounds of the Champions League.

After the match, Rosenior praised Caicedo, calling him “an outstanding player.”

“He’s a world-class midfield player and always a threat from set plays,” Rosenior said.

Caicedo described the game as difficult, making his goal even more crucial.

“We got three points and now we’re going to enjoy it. We’re going to keep going because we have one more game to go,” he said.

It was a largely frustrating night for Chelsea, who needed a win to keep their top-eight hopes alive and would have expected to score more goals against the Cypriot champions.

Chelsea, winners of the competition in 2012 and 2021, are now among eight teams tied on 13 points, making goal difference a vital factor in qualification.

Looking ahead to next week’s match at Napoli, Rosenior said: “Conte is a great coach. But I’m not daunted by the prospect. They have to win, which changes the dynamic.”

Pafos, who hit the post in the first half after a shot from Jaja deflected off Chelsea captain Reece James, dropped to 30th in the table with six points. -Reporting by Clare Lovell; Editing by Clare Fallon/Reuters