Como captain Lucas Da Cunha described their 9-1 away victory against RC Lens as a "crazy result" while insisting his team-mates must remain grounded. The midfielder led by example on the pitch, scoring his side's fourth goal in a historic European night.
Skipper leads Como to unbelievable away triumph
Como 1907 captain Lucas Da Cunha enjoyed a night to remember as he skippered Cesc Fabregas' side to a historic 9-1 victory over RC Lens. The Italian outfit produced a devastating attacking performance, claiming the first away win of their European journey in emphatic fashion.
Da Cunha capped a fine individual performance by scoring Como's fourth goal early in the second half.
The captain helped orchestrate a relentless team performance that saw Anastasios Douvikas score a hat-trick alongside strikes from Nico Paz, Marc Oliver Kempf, Mattia Liberali, Martin Baturina, and debutant Matteo Papaccioli.
Da Cunha revels in desire and relentless execution
Speaking after leading his team to the record-breaking victory, Da Cunha expressed his delight at the squad's hunger and focus from the opening whistle. "It’s an incredible night. We started with a lot of desire, we wanted to take the three points, like we always do, and this evening we were able to do that," the skipper remarked.
The 25-year-old midfielder set the tone for Como's dominant midfield display, ensuring the visitors maintained their tempo throughout the 90 minutes.
His 47th-minute strike effectively ended any hopes of a Lens fightback.
Captain issues stern warning against complacency
Despite the scoreline creating shockwaves across Europe, Da Cunha demonstrated his leadership by warning his team-mates against getting carried away. "It's a crazy night and a crazy result, but we can't get ahead of ourselves," the skipper emphasised.
The captain highlighted that securing maximum points remained the primary objective, regardless of the staggering goal margin.
"We came for the three points and that's what we were able to secure," Da Cunha added.
Leaders setting standard for Fabregas' project
Da Cunha's measured post-match reaction reflects the mature environment established under head coach Cesc Fabregas.
The captain will ensure the squad refocused quickly when they return to domestic and European duties.
Como will take immense confidence from their captain's leadership and the clinical execution shown on a night that will live long in the club's history.
A sports journalist with nearly a decade of experience, beginning the professional journey at Indonesia's legendary Tabloid BOLA from 2017 until its final print edition in December 2018. Following that, joining GOAL, contributing as a freelance writer for FIFA, and working within the media department of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). Alongside the journalism career, also active as a live play-by-play commentator for Indonesian football since 2017. Holds a bachelor's degree in History from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung.
Football Story
Footballing identity built on geography, heritage, and childhood obsession. Although the father played for a traditional rival club, nine years living in Bandung made Persib a spiritual home, sparked in 2006 by Thai goalkeeper Kosin Hathairattanakool and witnessing firsthand how deeply locals own the club. Globally, the first true love was Ronaldo and Inter Milan, enduring the heartbreak of near-misses during injury-plagued years. With Dutch roots in Rotterdam, making Feyenoord the club of choice, the Netherlands national team has always remained close to the heart, highlighted by the 2010 World Cup final, a live 2013 friendly against Indonesia, and Oranje Indonesia watch parties. Arjen Robben and Giovanni van Bronckhorst remain ultimate favorites, while Football Manager 2005 sparked a lasting admiration for Athletic Bilbao’s philosophy. Outside football, allegiance lies with the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors through icons like Michael Jordan, Derrick Rose, and Stephen Curry.
Areas of Expertise
Areas of expertise span Indonesian football and Liga 1 data insights and unique features, alongside Southeast Asian and East Asian football landscapes covering Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, and Korea. Additional skills include digital and social media video content creation such as Instagram reels and podcasts, as well as player profiling, feature writing, live broadcasting, interviewing, photography, and multilingual communication in basic français and español .
Favourite Footballing Memory
Combining a passion for backpacking with professional assignments has made it possible to pursue two goals simultaneously. Meeting and interviewing various Indonesian players pursuing careers or currently based abroad, ranging from across Southeast Asia to Europe, has been an absolute privilege and honor. Traveling independently through the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, and Japan to track down and connect with Indonesian players competing abroad remains a truly cherished experience. Crafting interview content with them is a body of work that will always hold a special place in memory.
My All-Time XI
It’s tough to lock down a definitive starting XI, but the non-negotiables are Manuel Neuer or Rogério Ceni in goal; alongside Javier Zanetti, Sergio Ramos, N'Golo Kanté, Toni Kroos, Arjen Robben, Mo Salah, and Zlatan Ibrahimović. Juan Román Riquelme or Michael Laudrup most likely complete the tactical puzzle. While legends like Lothar Matthäus, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldo are impossible to overlook, they were left out simply because they feature in everyone else's lineup.
