Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel secured a vital level at house for his group within the closing moments of their Champions League Group E match towards Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Provedel headed within the equaliser, incomes the Serie A facet a 1-1 draw.
5 minutes into stoppage time, the goalkeeper, after venturing up the pitch for a last-ditch nook, headed house a cross from Luis Alberto with one of many closing touches of the sport. The end result of the first-ever Champions League conflict between Lazio and Atletico resulted in Feyenoord taking the highest place within the group, because of their 2-0 victory over Celtic in a simultaneous match on Tuesday.
Provedel turned the primary goalkeeper to attain in a Champions League match since Nigeria’s Vincent Enyeama achieved the feat for Hapoel Tel Aviv 13 years in the past, and solely the fourth general.
“It is a night time I will bear in mind all my life,” Provedel instructed UEFA.com.
“I am blissful particularly as a result of we managed to degree a sport we did not should lose. It hasn’t sunk in; later, I’ll realise that I scored within the Champions League.
“Soccer is typically about moments and never efficiency. I’m sorry that we needed to equalise on the final second. I hope the purpose provides us momentum as motivation and enthusiasm,” he mentioned.
Midfielder Pablo Barrios had damaged the impasse for Atletico within the twenty ninth minute with a first-time strike from lengthy vary that deflected off defender Daichi Kamada, utterly wrong-footing Provedel.
Lazio managed the primary a part of the match, throughout which Mattia Zaccagni challenged Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak with a strong free-kick over the wall. Nonetheless, the Slovenian deflected it to a nook.
Atletico Madrid got here near doubling their lead after the break, with Alvaro Morata placing the publish, whereas Provedel made a number of shut saves to maintain Lazio within the match.
Ciro Motionless tried to get an equaliser for the Roman facet within the early minutes of the second half however missed a golden alternative when he discovered himself clear on aim and poked the ball instantly at Oblak. In stoppage time, Oblak got here to the rescue for Atletico when he tipped Danilo Cataldi’s long-range rocket across the base of the publish.
Atletico supervisor Diego Simeone was upbeat in regards to the draw. “We performed second half, we had clear goal-scoring possibilities. We defended organised and with quite a lot of effort. I’m left with feeling regardless of the aim within the final minute.”
The 53-year-old Argentine, who performed for Lazio once they final gained the Italian championship in 2000, made an emotionally charged return to the Olimpico, the place banners greeted him with the message, “Lazio and Rome will at all times be your house. Welcome again!”
“The followers are unimaginable, I felt a lot emotion in the beginning of the sport but in addition simply strolling into the stadium,” Simeone mentioned.
Lazio will journey subsequent to Glasgow to face Celtic on October 4. Atletico Madrid will tackle Feyenoord on the identical day.
