The Ecuadorian nodded in from close range after Benoit Badiashile flicked on Pedro Neto’s teasing corner 12 minutes from time. The goal broke the Cypriot side’s resistance, with their goalkeeper Jay Gorter making several fine saves to keep us at bay.

He denied Caicedo on at least three separate occasions, while Jorrel Hato and sub Estevao Willian were also thwarted by the Dutchman. There was nothing he could do, however, to stop Caicedo converting on the occasion of our 100th Champions League game proper at the Bridge.

The victory leaves us in eighth position in the league phase table ahead of next week’s trip to Italy to play Napoli. A top-eight berth secures progression straight into March’s Round of 16.

Team news

Liam Rosenior made six changes to his Chelsea team. Filip Jorgensen started in goal for the Blues, and ahead of him Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Badiashile and Hato formed an entirely fresh defence.

Reece James lined up in midfield alongside Caicedo, with Enzo Fernandez pushing forward into a more advanced position. Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho retained their places on the flanks, while Liam Delap led the line in place of Joao Pedro.

David Luiz remained on the bench for Pafos throughout.

Denied an early opener

Chelsea took a while to get going but we began to assert our authority ten minutes in. Neto had our first attempt of note, whipped into the Matthew Harding Stand, before James went much closer from the edge of the box.

We briefly thought we had taken the lead when Neto’s teasing cross was nodded into the net by Fernandez, but the referee whistled for a foul by our Argentinean. There wasn’t a lot in it.

On the half-hour, we had a let off. Our visitors broke and the ball was worked wide left to Jaja, whose shot deflected off James and hit the base of the post. Pafos’ appeals for a penalty for handball were waved away.

The Blues quickly responded and from a corner, we almost broke the deadlock. Caicedo had a shot well saved by Jay Gorter and with the loose ball bouncing around, Badiashile headed a whisker wide.

Hato goes close

Gorter made two more excellent stops before the interval, denying Caicedo again and then, on the stroke of half-time, his compatriot Hato. It was our clearest opportunity yet.

Ahead of the restart, Robert Sanchez and Estevao Willian came on for Jorgensen – who had been holding his hip – and James.

Estevao was quickly in the thick of the action. A delicious diagonal from Fernandez found the Brazilian, who connected sweetly on his right. Gorter once again stood in our way, as he did when Neto’s low drive almost wrongfooted him.

We were really ramping up the pressure now. A cute flick from Badiashile gave Estevao some space to work with, but two white-shirted defenders rushed to block his shot.

It was the same story when Fofana stole possession on halfway and found Garnacho, with Derrick Luckassen charging across to get a foot on the winger’s strike before it could test Gorter.

Breakthrough!

Pafos, mostly with everyone behind the ball now, were frustrating us. But we finally broke the deadlock with 12 minutes remaining. Our corners – and we had many! – had been dangerous all evening. This time Neto’s inswinger was flicked on by Badiashile and who was arriving but Caicedo, guiding the ball into the bottom corner from close range.

It proved the difference as the Blues overcame stubborn opposition to leave our Champions League fate in our own hands.

What it means…

We are in eighth position in the league phase table which would be enough to advance directly to the last-16. The small matter of Antonio Conte’s Napoli stand in our way a week today.

What’s next…

The Blues travel south of the river to play Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon. Kick-off at Selhurst Park is at 2pm.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen (Sanchez h/t); Gusto, Fofana, Badiashile, Hato (Cucurella 70); James (c) (Estevao h/t), Caicedo; Neto, Fernandez, Garnacho (Gittens 70); Delap (Joao Pedro 70)
Unused subs Acheampong, Chalobah, Emenalo, Andrey Santos, Walsh, George, Guiu
Scorer Caicedo 78
Booked Gittens 73, Fernandez 86

Pafos (3-4-2-1): Gorter; Sema (Langa 83), Luckassen, Pileas; Bruno, Pepe, Sunjic (Bassouamina 83), Jaja (Quina 65); Orsic, Dragomir (c) (G.Michael 89); Anderson (Dimata 65)
Unused subs Petrou, N.Michael, David Luiz, Goldar, Fontoura, Caldierado
Booked Orsic 33, Sema 56, Sunjic 79

Referee Erik Lambrechts from Belgium
Crowd 39,200