Late Drama in Rome as Goalie Goal gives Lazio a Draw

Lazio and Atlético Madrid ended in a 1-1 draw after a goal in the final minute of stoppage time. Atlético Madrid led for most of the game, despite conceding many chances towards the end. In the 94th minute, Lazio’s goalkeeper Ivan Provedel scored from a cross by midfielder Luis Alberto to even up the match at 1. With this draw, Atlético Madrid is winless in their last six matches in the Champions League.

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Atlético strikes First

The game started pretty slowly for both teams. Lazio possessed most of the ball in the first ten minutes but did not produce any chances. They got their first two chances in the 12th and 18th minutes of the game, but neither tested Atlético’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Lazio continued to push and created a few chances, including a volley by Alberto in the 27th minute. Just a minute later, Atlético Madrid struck first. Right back Nahuel Molina received a pass down the right wing and gave it to midfielder Pablo Barrios. Barrios hit the ball from around 25 yards out, as it took a deflection off Lazio’s Daichi Kamada for the goal.

After the goal, the last 16 minutes did not have much action. Atlético had plenty of the ball in those minutes but did not look threatening. Lazio’s left back Luca Pellegrini needed to be subbed off after sustaining an injury from a foul.

A Historical Goal for Lazio in the End

The second half started similar to the first one, as Lazio started with most of the possession. They produced two shots in the first ten minutes of the second half. In the 56th minute, Oblak made a poor pass, and Lazio seemed to have their best chance of the game up to that point. Striker Ciro Immobile shot the ball inside the box, and Oblak made a crucial save.

Atlético Madrid knew they had to get a second goal and had two chances in the 67th and 71st minutes. The first chance was an attempted inswinging cross by Antoine Griezmann, which was punched away by Provedel. The next chance, midfielder Marcos Llorente sent a low cross to left back Samuel Lino, who hammered a shot that Provedel saved to keep the game at 1-0.

Time was ticking for Lazio, as they were trying to create a chance to gain a point. Two shots outside the box by Alberto before stoppage time did not produce the goal. Then, Lazio had a big chance two minutes into stoppage time, as Danilo Cataldi fired a low shot from a long way out that just went wide.

Lazio got a corner for what would be the last chance of the match. Cataldi sent in the cross but it did not beat the first defender. However, Atlético did not clear the ball fully, so Cataldi still had the ball. He passed it to Alberto, who sent in an inswinging cross from the left, and Provedel put a header past Oblak for the goal.

The goal by Provedel meant a lot for Lazio, as they got a point despite the finishing struggles. Furthermore, this goal made history for the Champions League. Provedel became the first goalie since Vincent Enyeama to score a goal in the Champions League. In addition, Provedel became the second goalie ever to score a non-penalty goal in this competition, as Sinan Bolat scored the first one in 2009.

Lazio's Ivan Provedel is only the second goalkeeper in history to score a non-penalty goal in the Champions League ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/nTy687zvIy

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 19, 2023

In this match, Lazio had a total of 18 shots and six on target. On the other hand, Atlético put up eight shots but just three on target. In the next Champions League matchday, Lazio will take on Celtic and Atlético will face Feyenoord.