Ivan Provedel became just the fourth goalkeeper ever to score in the Champions League proper with a 95th-minute equaliser for Lazio against Atletico Madrid.
The 29-year-old rescued the hosts a point with the last touch of the game as he nodded in Luis Alberto’s cross – on his Champions League debut, no less.
Blue smoke rose from a flare flung onto the pitch as the Stadio Olimpico roared in ecstasy to celebrate the implausible moment.
Last-minute goalkeeper goals are the stuff of footballing folklore. Think of Jimmy Glass’ strike to keep Carlisle United in the Football league in 1999.
Not since 2009 when Vincent Enyeama thudded home a penalty for Hapoel Tel-Aviv against Lyon has a goalkeeper scored in Europe’s premier competition.
Ivan Provedel headed in a 95th-minute equaliser on his Champions league debut to salvage a point for Lazio against Atletico Madrid
The goalkeeper sprinted away in triumph as the Stadio Olimpico erupted in exultation
And it was a well-earned point for Lazio, who had 19 shots to Atletico Madrid’s nine and had gone close numerous times in the steaming Champions League affair.
Pablo Barrios, a tender 20 years old, had given Diego Simeone’s travelling party a 1-0 lead in the first half on his first start in the competition.
In typical fashion, they looked to have grinded out a win until Provedel charged through the box and knocked in Alberto’s inswinging cross.
Simeone’s hands gesticulated in the hope his team would have time to make amends, Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak shook his head, and players knelt down in disbelief.
The 29-year-old looked emotional as the significance of what he had done sank in
He marked the rare moment with a photograph as he became just the fourth goalkeeper to score in Champions League history
Lazio’s fans went wild as flares were chucked onto the pitch and flags waved in the stands
The unlikely hero, Provedel, walked through embraces with his team-mates and upon his face was painted a mixture of bewilderment, tearfulness, and defiance.
It has not been an easy time for Lazio, who sit 15th in Serie A with one win and three defeats.
This, however, will go down in the club’s history.
Only Enyeama, Bolat, and Hans-Jorg Butt have scored as goalkeepers before him – Butt on a remarkable three occasions, all against Juventus, as he was a regular penalty-taker.
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