own goal

[ohn gohl]

noun

1. Soccer, Ice Hockey.,  an unintentional goal scored to the offense when the ball struck by a defensive player goes into the defensive team’s net: o.g.

   The goalkeeper's own goal was a stunningly bad moment.

2. an unintentional harm or disadvantage to oneself or one’s associates, brought about by one’s own action, often when the intention was to harm or disadvantage someone else.

   The prosecution’s relentless badgering proved to be an own goal, and a much-relieved defendant went free.

own goal

noun

1. o.g. soccer a goal scored by a player accidentally playing the ball into his own team's net

2. informal,  any action that results in disadvantage to the person who took it or to a party, group, etc with which that person is associated

Word History and Origins

Origin of own goal¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Both Maresca and Arteta prefer to dominate the ball allowing their team to control the game far from their own goal.

From BBC

They also aimed to nullify runners by reducing the space they had in behind by being close to their own goal.

From BBC

Che Adams' goal just before half-time calmed the nerves, and his lovely pass helped force an own goal which saw Scotland over the line in a game played in Hungary behind closed doors.

From BBC

They have played four times since that night in Chicago and scored four goals, a penalty, two own goals and a single effort from open play, Mason Mount's well-worked effort against Everton.

From BBC

The Galaxy opened the scoring in the 27th minute thanks to an own goal by Pachuca defender Daniel Aceves, who seemed to be struggling with ball control and spacing.

From Los Angeles Times