own goal

noun

1

chiefly British : a goal in soccer, hockey, etc., that a player accidentally scores against his or her own team

2

British : something that one does thinking it will help him or her but that actually causes one harm

The workers scored an own goal by demanding such high wages that no one could afford to employ them.

Examples of own goal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Unfunny and out of bounds, offsides, an own goal — all of the things. — Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

It was eventually ruled to be an own goal off Cape Verde’s Diney Borges. — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 3 July 2026

Australia’s pace and youth took control at parts of regulation, but only had the Egypt own goal in the 55th minute to show for its efforts. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026

Once again, Brazil’s midfield is quickly retreating towards their own goal as Morocco pile forward. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026

Argentina scored twice in extra time, with the winner coming courtesy of a Diney Borges own goal in the 111th minute. — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 4 July 2026

The vote came a day before a high-profile Israel-Iran game in Tehran that Iran won 1-0 on an Israeli own goal. — Deborah Danan, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2026

Cape Verde gave the defending champions a major scare on Friday, forcing extra time before Argentina got by via a late own goal in an epic Round of 32 confrontation. — Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Argentina finally re-took the lead for good in the 111th minute when Cristian Romero hit a glancing header that deflected off the arm of Cape Verde defender Diney Borges for an own goal. — Miami Herald, 4 July 2026

Rhymes for own goal

• bankroll
• bedroll
• borehole
• cajole
• catchpole
• charcoal
• condole
• control
• dipole
• downhole
• enroll
• extol