Lazio goalkeeper breaks Enyeama's 13-year Champions League record after late goal

Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel announced himself to the UEFA Champions League after scoring a last-minute goal to secure a point for his side in their opening match of the campaign against Atletico Madrid. 

The Italian goalkeeper had conceded a goal in the first half from a deflected Pablo Barrios effort but was determined to get at least a point for his side, eventually popping up at the other end of the pitch to score a 95th-minute equaliser. 

The 29-year-old waited in the box after a corner in the last minute of the game and was on the end of a cross from Luis Alberto to beat his opposite number, Jan Oblak, and rescue a point for Lazio. 

Provedel’s heroics have propelled him into stardom and into UEFA Champions League history, even though this has come at the expense of a Super Eagles legend. 

Provedel’s strike in extra time to salvage a draw for Lazio against their Spanish rivals also meant that he had become the first goalkeeper to score in the UEFA Champions League since Nigeria’s Vincent Enyeama, who last struck for Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2010. 

No other goalkeeper in Europe’s top tournament had been able to find the back of the net since Enyeama converted a penalty in the 2010/11 season against Lyon for Hapoel Tel Aviv until Provedel popped up as Lazio’s saviour. 

That season, Enyeama also scored in the UCL qualifying playoffs for Hapoel Tel Aviv against Red Bull Salzburg, finishing the campaign with two European goals. 

The last goalkeeper to score from open play in the UCL was Sinan Bolat, who also scored in the 95th minute for Standard Liege to rescue a draw against AZ Alkmaar.