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

But moments later, Bremen got even when Cardoso dribbled past a series of defenders and played a dangerous ball into the box that a Herscher defender booted into the net for an own goal. — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026

Still, Lyon was barely troubled cruising to victory after an eighth-minute own goal by Laia Ballesté, under pressure from Dumornay, to turn a cross by Salma Paralluelo into her own net. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

Messi has also contributed to a goal (with either his own goal or an assist) in eight consecutive matches. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026

For Brighton’s equaliser, United played around the Brighton defence, only for Dalot to hoof the ball into the middle of the pitch, forcing centre-forward Benjamin Sesko to head back towards his own goal under pressure. — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

United got on the board in the seventh minute thanks to an Orlando own goal, marking the earliest score for the Five Stripes this season. — Amna Subhan, AJC.com, 10 Sep. 2026

The 32-year-old scored again in the 26th, six minutes after the own goal. — CBS News, 6 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for own goal

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