the Lazio goalkeeper scores a goal at the very end of the match to equalize against Atlético de Madrid

It was an extremely rare scene witnessed by spectators at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday, September 19, during the match between Lazio Rome and Atlético de Madrid (1-1). To the great delight of the Italian club’s fans, goalkeeper Ivan Provedel saved his team from a defeat for their entry into the Champions League, not by setting himself up as a bulwark on his line, but by transforming himself into a scorer in complete end of match.

Entering the opposing area on a corner, while the Laziale were pushing to equalize after Pablo Barrios’ goal in the first period (29th), the Italian goalkeeper headed Luis Alberto’s cross with his head, to deceive his counterpart from Atlético, Jan Oblak (90th + 5). Dejected by this goal scored in the very last seconds of the match, the players of the Spanish club, including Antoine Griezmann, remained prostrate for long seconds in the middle of the field before the referee whistled the end of the match.

Provedel is the first goalkeeper to score in the Champions League since the Nigerian Vincent Enyeama and his penalty scored against Olympique Lyonnais in September 2010, and the first to do so (excluding penalties) since the Turk Sinan Bolat against AZ Alkmaar in December 2009. The Italian goalkeeper is also accustomed to the fact: he had already scored in February 2020 during a Serie B match, against Ascoli. A goal already scored with a header and already to snatch the point of the draw.