History Maker Provedel in Disbelief After Last-Minute Equalizer

Lazio guardian Ivan Provedel stunned Atletico Madrid in the 95^th minute of their UEFA Champions League group stage opener with a sleek header, helping the Aquile earn a hard-fought point after canceling out Pablo Barrios first-half strike. In a dramatic ending, the Italian shotstopper rushed forward to help his side with the equalizer, and his gamble ultimately paid dividends as he headed in Luis Alberto’s cross to send the Stadio Olimpico berserk.

Provedel spoke to SportMediaset (via Tuttomercatoweb) following the clash and expressed his feelings after the historic goal.

“It’s a great emotion and I’m still not realizing it. The most difficult thing was dodging the slaps at the end, luckily Luis Alberto kicked it there. It was mayhem, but I feel it more when I make a save. I’m not used to this. I’ll realize it in a while. I’m happy for the point and I’m sorry that the goal came in the last minute. We deserved it sooner. Now let’s think about Serie A, where we have registered very few points.”

In doing so, Provedel, who played as a striker until he was 15, becomes only the fourth different goalkeeper to score a UCL goal, after Jorg Butt, Sinan Bolat, and Vincent Enyeama, and only the second to do it from open play.