Idioms

an own goal

an own goal

1. In sports, a goal that a player accidentally scores for the opposing team. I can't believe we lost the championship because of an own goal. I was trying to get the puck out of our zone, but I scored an own goal—how mortifying! I'm so glad he scored the winning goal and totally redeemed himself. You know, it was his own goal last year that led to them being eliminated from the tournament
2. An action pursued because it seems beneficial but that ultimately has a detrimental effect. Sheila's speech was supposed to win her more supporters, but it became an own goal once she started ranting off-topic. The law seemed promising, but it has generated such strong opposition that it's become an own goal for the president. I know he's thrilled to have more allies on the board, but I worry that aligning himself with such polarizing people will prove to be an own goal.
See also: an, goal, own
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

an own goal

BRITISH
COMMON An own goal is a course of action which is intended to bring you an advantage and which instead causes a problem for you. It was a classic own goal by the fashion house. They brought their prices down to attract more customers but lost the high-end customers that they already had. Note: In sports such as football and hockey, if someone scores an own goal, they accidentally score a goal for the team they are playing against by knocking the ball into their own net.
See also: an, goal, own
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
See also:
References in periodicals archive
But Jonathan Ikone grabbed a leveller for the French, who brought Hoops midfielder Olivier Ntcham off the bench, before an own goal from Crystal Palace's Aaron Wan-Bissaka won it.
Last-gasp OG shock is such tough Wan to take
But as a Blue Nose I think that we should have a replay as one of their goals was an own goal, and it does not seem fair that an own goal counts.
Boris shows replay is the [...]; Get in touch - tell us what you think Email: letters@birminghammail.co.uk Twitter: @birminghammail Facebook: facebook.com/birminghammail Post: Birmingham Mail, 60 Church Street, Birmingham B3 2DJ
In the Premier Cup Group B Belton needing a win by four clear goals just missed out on a semi-final place as they beat Kegworth Imperial 3-0, Joe Wesley (2) and an own goal for Belton.
Premier Division leaders Greenhill YC drop two points; upton steel north leicestershire league
Tony Pulis admitted that his promotion-chasing Middlesbrough team had been poor, as they had to rely on an own goal from Jayden Bogle to grind out a point at home to Derby County.
Tony's tactics, shot shy Boro & a bizarre own goal: National media round-up; 'Middlesbrough will take solace from the way they doggedly dug out a point from a largely listless display'
"We had a reaction but an own goal makes 2-0," Mourinho told BT Sport.
Jose Mourinho blames three excuses for Manchester United's damning defeat to West Ham; The Red Devils were brushed aside at the London Stadium 3-1 after goals from Felipe Anderson and Marko Arnautovic humbled the Portuguese's side
Pwllheli saw off Kinmel Bay 4-2, Lois Thomas netting twice, Amy Roberts adding another, and there was an own goal. Charlotte Pardoe and Sarah Massey hit back for Bay.
Three tied at the top after first two games
Despite taking the lead through an own goal, Oman was a worthy winner as it dominated the first half with an attacking game and created far more chances than its opponent.
OMAN EDGES BAHRAIN, ENTERS GULF CUP FINAL
It is one of the ironies of football that sometimes a team's destiny is made or marred by an own goal. And at the Jaber Al Ahmed International Stadium in Kuwait City, it was Oman who benefited from an own goal by Bahrain's Mahdi Abduljabbar.
Oman edge Bahrain, enter Gulf Cup final
But his star took a battering when he scored an own goal against Wigan, and followed it up with two more and a red card in the clash with Cardiff.
I'VE JUST HAD DUFF LUCK
We had 70 per cent possession, we scored an own goal, missed a penalty, lost a goal from a set-piece, that's perfect to make the day a nightmare."
Wenger low note; West Brom .......... 2 Arsenal ................ 1
Looking back across the decades, the name Glenn Keeley will be recalled by older Mags for a real howler of an own goal in the Tees-Tyne derby on January 31, 1976, which effectively deprived the Toon of a 3-2 win at Ayresome Park.
Dummett not alone in hall of OG infamy
His disastrous debut for Real Madrid was marked by an own goal -- and a sending-off -- in front of 80,000 at the Bernabeu in 2005.
Newcastle United's Paul Dummett not alone in the hall of own-goal infamy; We recall own-goal howlers down the years from 1970s Toon stopper Glenn Keeley to Real Madrid's Jonathan Woodgate
A Robinson effort and an own goal were enough to see Sacre Coeur FP through 2-0 against Cafe D'Art.
REMYCA spot-on in epic; Zingari Combination
Liverpool needed the help of two own goals for the win that lifted them to fifth in the table and left QPR bottom after a mesmerising finale with Liverpool's winning goal coming in the fifth minute of added time after Steven Caulker scored an own goal with virtually the last kick of the game.
Two own goals give Liverpool stunning 3-2 win at QPR
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