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

Facing his own goal, Dewsbury-Hall had dropped in to collect the ball from his defence, but Ampadu tracked him all the way and did not hesitate in launching into a fierce challenge. —Beren Cross, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025

Alexis Vega's goal early in the second half and an own goal by Saudi defender Abdullah Madu sealed the win for Mexico, who were the only quarterfinalist to advance in regulation time. Honduras, meanwhile, arrives with momentum and resilience. —Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025

Here is another example of Chelsea’s build-up, this time pressed closer to their own goal by Leverkusen. —Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2025

In the third minute of second-half stoppage time, the Pride found a way back into the match thanks to a Louisville own goal. —Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Aug. 2025

Rhymes for own goal

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