own goal

American  

[ohn gohl] / ˈoʊn ˌgoʊl /

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 British  

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

---

Etymology

Origin of own goal

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

“It’s the very definition of an own goal.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The ball was eventually whipped into the box and Barcelona tied themselves in knots, Jules Kounde poking the ball home for an own goal.

From Barron's

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

From BBC

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

From BBC

“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.

From The Wall Street Journal