Champions League group play got underway on Tuesday, and while there were some surprising results from the first slate of matches — Newcastle earning a draw at AC Milan among them — nothing can possibly top the ending to the match between Lazio and Atletico Madrid.
Midfielder Pablo Barrios slotted home a right-footed shot in the 29th minute to give visiting Atletico Madrid an early 1-0 lead.
They would carry that lead deep into stoppage time, when Lazio brought everyone forward in search of the equalizer, including keeper Ivan Provedel.
On a last-minute corner Lazio found that equalizer, thanks to Provedel himself:
LAZIO GOALKEEPER IVAN PROVEDEL SCORES WITH THE LAST TOUCH OF THE GAME
Only the second keeper in Champions League HISTORY to score a non-penalty. pic.twitter.com/wMpUhnMwg7
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 19, 2023
As noted, Provedel became just the second keeper in Champions League history to score on a non-penalty. His header sent the crowd at Stadio Olimpico into an absolute frenzy, which continued well after the final whistle.
That frenzy included Provedel’s teammates lifting him up in celebration:
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24937148/1691215039.jpg)
Photo by Ivan Romano/Getty Images
Perhaps the equalizer was foretold. As noted by ESPN FC, the numbers involved might have given us a clue this goal was coming:
Lazio’s goalkeeper Ivan Provedel is 1.94M tall, was born in 1994, wears the number 94 on his back and scored in 90+4 minutes to equalise.
Some things are meant to be pic.twitter.com/87iiYuVKrA
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 20, 2023
Lazio supporters might believe that some things were meant to be, after what they saw Tuesday.
Given that this was the first-ever Champions League match between the two sides, one can only imagine what the encore will have in store.
