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

The inswinging cross and the collective movement towards the goal forced the Liverpool players closer to their own goal.

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Losing to Brazil by a hapless own goal and then, after raising hopes by drawing with Norway, being demolished by Morocco.

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“I’ve always had my own goals and career aspirations, and I’ve worked to balance those with being a committed and present father,” he said.

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Reece James: As England dominated the game, James spent most of the time in attacking positions and was not up against much going towards his own goal.

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Three years after its introduction, the law changed to consider the position of the defenders closest to their own goal, and it hasn't altered much since.

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