Chelsea 1-0 Pafos FC Player Ratings: Caicedo's Late Header Secures Narrow 1-0 Win

It was a night of ultimate relief at Stamford Bridge in this Champions League clash between Chelsea and Pafos FC for the hosts as the scoreline went in favour of them 1-0. The UCL contest was a classic story of dominance failing to immediately break a stubborn defence, until one moment of quality finally changed the balance.

Club World Cup champions Chelsea dominated the match in almost every measurable way. The Blues controlled 71% of the possession, outclassed Pafos 21 to 4 when it came to shots, and created 5 big chances to none for the visitors, underlining just how much they pressured from the first whistle.

But even with such overwhelming numbers, tangible returns proved cagey for long periods. Pafos defended in a deep, organised fashion for much of the night, forcing Chelsea to work tirelessly for openings. It wasn’t until the 78th minute that the deadlock was finally broken.

One of the best Premier League midfielders currently, Moisés Caicedo, rose to meet a well‑delivered corner and headed home the decisive goal, sparking wild celebration among the home crowd around the 78th-minute mark.

It wasn’t pretty, but it was a crucial three points and a professional performance from Chelsea. Sportsdunia brings you the Chelsea vs Pafos FC Player Ratings from this Champions League encounter below.

Key Takeaways

• The Blues controlled possession and created the overwhelming majority of chances.
• Stubborn opposition: Pafos defended resolutely, keeping Chelsea at bay for most of the match.
• Late breakthrough: Caicedo’s 78th-minute header secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory.

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Pafos FC

Let's take a deeper look at the Chelsea Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Filip Jørgensen - 6.0: A spectator for his 45 minutes on the pitch. Pafos offered next to nothing going forward in the first half. He distributed the ball cleanly but was never tested. An easy, uneventful half of football for the keeper before being substituted.

Defenders

Benoît Badiashile - 7.5: What stood out to us was his incredible comfort on the ball. He completed 112 passes with 96% accuracy, acting as a deep-lying playmaker. He created a big chance but also missed a sitter from a header. Defensively solid and a key part of Chelsea's build-up play.

Jorrel Hato - 6.5: Had one of Chelsea's better chances in the first half, forcing a save just before the whistle. He looked steady for the most part but was substituted on 70 minutes. A decent, if unspectacular, performance from the young defender.

Malo Gusto - 8.0: A fantastic outlet on the right flank all night long. He was a constant source of energy, winning his duels and recovering the ball high up the pitch. His crossing was a threat, and he was defensively astute, rarely getting caught out. A really impressive, energetic display.

Wesley Fofana - 8.0: A colossal performance at the heart of the defence. He was imperious, with 9 ball recoveries and an outstanding passing range. He looked composed, strong, and read the game brilliantly. From our perspective, he was one of the best players on the pitch.

Midfielders

Pedro Neto - 7.5: A livewire. He was a constant menace with his dribbling and willingness to take shots from distance. Completed 5 dribbles and always looked to make something happen. His final product was sometimes lacking, especially with his crosses, but his intent was always positive.

Enzo Fernández - 6.5: A frustrating night for the Argentine. While he created three chances, he also seemed to struggle with the physical nature of the game, losing possession 12 times. He picked up a late yellow card which summed up his slight agitation. Not his best game, but he kept trying to unlock the defence.

Reece James - 6.5: The captain played just the first half. He was tidy in possession and had a couple of efforts from distance. It felt like a managed appearance, taken off at halftime likely to protect him. Did his job without setting the world alight.

Moisés Caicedo - 9.0: The undisputed man of the match. He was simply everywhere. Not only did he score the crucial winning goal, but his engine in midfield was incredible. He made 8 ball recoveries, had 4 shots on target, and drove his team forward relentlessly. An immense, game-winning performance.

Alejandro Garnacho - 7.0: A real battering ram on the wing. He won an astounding 11 duels, showing incredible fight and desire. However, his end product didn't match his effort, as he missed a big chance with a header. A tenacious performance that lacked the final touch of quality.

Forwards

Liam Delap - 6.5: A tough, thankless task leading the line against a packed defence. He worked hard, held the ball up reasonably well, and created two chances for his teammates. He had a couple of shots blocked but never got a clear sight of goal. A solid shift without the reward.

Substitutes

Robert Sánchez - 7.0: Came on at halftime and, unlike his predecessor, was actually called into action. He made a couple of key saves late on to preserve the 1-0 lead. He was alert and did his job perfectly when required.

Estêvão - 6.0: Looked bright and eager to impress after coming on at the break. Had one shot blocked but couldn't quite find the space to make a decisive impact.

João Pedro - N/A: Introduced for the final 20 minutes but had little involvement.

Jamie Gittens - N/A: Came on and picked up a yellow card almost immediately. Not enough time to rate.

Marc Cucurella - N/A: A late change to see out the game.

Manager

L. Rosenior - 7.0: His team completely dominated the game but lacked a clinical edge. He kept faith in the system, and the relentless pressure eventually paid off with the corner for the goal. He will be relieved with the win but will demand more ruthlessness in front of goal next time.

Pafos FC Player Ratings vs Chelsea

Here's a look at the Pafos FC Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Jay Gorter - 8.5: Simply heroic. Without him, this would have been a comfortable Chelsea win. He made 6 saves, several of which were spectacular stops from point-blank range. Commanded his area well and was a calming presence. An outstanding performance despite the loss.

Defenders

Kostas Pileas - 6.0: Had a very difficult evening trying to contain Chelsea's dynamic wingers. He was pinned back for the entire game and struggled to offer any support going forward. He stuck to his task defensively but it was a long night for him.

Derrick Luckassen - 6.5: A warrior's performance. He threw his body on the line, making a staggering 11 clearances and 2 blocks. He was caught out on occasion and gave away a couple of fouls, but his commitment to the defensive cause was immense.

Ivan Sunjic - 6.5: Another who put in a huge defensive shift. He made 3 crucial clearances and 2 blocks. He organized the backline well under immense pressure. Picked up a needless yellow card after the goal, which was the only blot on his copybook.

Midfielders

Bruno - 5.0: A night to forget for the midfielder. He was completely overrun, losing possession 20 times and being dispossessed on 5 separate occasions. An error from him led directly to a Chelsea shot. While he worked hard, his performance on the ball was poor.

Ken Sema - 6.0: Ran himself into the ground for the team. He made three successful tackles and tried to provide an outlet, but it was a tough ask. He was booked for a cynical foul and eventually substituted, looking exhausted.

Vlad Dragomir - 7.5: Led his team by example. The captain was a rock in the middle, making 6 clearances and 3 vital interceptions. He even forced a good save from the Chelsea keeper with a long-range effort. A battling, spirited performance.

Pêpê - 6.0: Tried to keep things tidy in midfield but was often bypassed by Chelsea's quick passing. He made a couple of good tackles but was dribbled past three times, showing the difficulty of his task. A disciplined but quiet game.

Forwards

Jajá - 6.0: His main contributions were defensive. He recovered the ball 8 times, showing a great work rate. Going forward, he was completely starved of service and had one shot blocked. Substituted after 65 minutes of hard running.

Mislav Orsic - 5.5: We expected more from him. He was largely anonymous, losing the ball too often and failing to create anything of note. Picked up a yellow card for a poor challenge. A disappointing showing from a player of his quality.

Anderson Silva - 5.5: An incredibly isolated figure up front. He only touched the ball 14 times in 65 minutes, which tells the whole story. He couldn't get into the game at all and offered no threat before being replaced.

Substitutes

Landry Dimata - 6.0: Came on and offered a bit more physical presence, having a header blocked and a shot saved late on.

Domingos Quina - 5.5: Added fresh legs but couldn't influence the midfield battle.

Mons Bassouamina - N/A: Came on for the final few minutes.

Bruno Langa - N/A: A late defensive substitution.

Georgios Michael - N/A: Replaced the tired captain in the dying moments.

Manager

A. Celades López - 6.5: His game plan was clear and it nearly earned his side a famous point. He set his team up to be incredibly compact and difficult to break down. They defended with immense heart, but the lack of any attacking ambition ultimately cost them.

Player of the Match

Moisés Caicedo was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Bruno from Pafos FC was the worst performer in the Chelsea vs Pafos FC clash.