Como (Italy), Sep 11: Como marked its Champions League debut with a gesture of respect by inviting its older fans to watch a dream night end with a 4-1 win over Leipzig on Thursday.
President Mirwan Suwarso and some directors made the magnanimous decision of giving away their own seats, allowing supporters born in 1950 or earlier to attend the sold-out game.
They looked on with pride as midfielder Martin Baturina scored Como’s first-ever Champions League goal in the 15th minute. Como’s other goals came from Anastasios Douvikas, Assane Diao and Máximo Perrone as fans celebrated in a jubilant atmosphere.
“It was a wonderful performance tonight,” Como coach Cesc Fabregas said. “It was our first game in the Champions League, so it’s a historic night for us.”
Capacity was reduced to around 10,000 because the delightful Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium on the shores of Lake Como underwent modifications for the Champions League.
The 119-year-old club reached the competition under Fabregas, a standout goal-scoring midfielder during a stellar club career with Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona. He played for the Spain team that won the 2010 World Cup.
Fabregas guided Como to fourth place last season ahead of Juventus and AC Milan to claim Serie A’s final Champions League spot with a high-pressing brand of soccer.
“This is a reward for the great work the team did last year, and we’re very happy to be part of it,” Fabregas said. “But we cannot forget who we are. We need to remain humble and keep our feet on the ground.”
Goals have been coming from 22-year-old playmaker Nico Paz, who has stayed on loan from Real Madrid and the burly Greece center forward Douvikas, who was involved in the opening goal for Baturina.
He released Douvikas down the right and then latched onto his deflected cross toward the penalty spot, recovering from a slip before pushing the ball past two defenders and guiding it into the bottom left corner.
Baturina returned the compliment as he put Douvikas clean through with a pass from the halfway line close to halftime, and Douvikas finished confidently after holding off a defender.
A fast break led to the third goal, in the 54th, as first-time passes from Douvikas and Paz sent Diao down the right, and he cut inside before shooting into the bottom left corner.
Midfielder Andrija Maksimovic scored for Leipzig before the quick-thinking Paz set up Perrone with a fine pass for Como’s fourth of an unforgettable night.
“I’m very happy and proud,” Baturina said. “I’m sure the whole city is very happy too, and now we can celebrate.” (AP)
