Owen Goal

An "own goal" (often shortened to "own goal" or "OG") in sports, particularly in association football (soccer), ice hockey, and other similar sports with defined goals, is when a player inadvertently scores a point or goal against their own team, rather than the opposing team. The point is then awarded to the opposing team.

The term is used to describe a situation where a player's action, whether a misdirected pass, deflection, or other unfortunate event, results in the ball or puck entering their own net or goal. While the player may not have intended to score against their own team, the outcome results in the opposing team being credited with the point.

Own goals can significantly impact the outcome of a game, often leading to changes in strategy and increased pressure on the team that conceded the own goal. They are often considered unfortunate incidents and can be attributed to pressure, miscommunication, or simply bad luck.

The scoring of an own goal can be attributed to a player even if the ball or puck was already heading towards the goal, but the player's intervention altered its trajectory in a way that made it more likely to enter the net.

Official scoring rules vary slightly depending on the specific sport, but the basic principle remains the same: if a player causes the ball or puck to enter their own goal, the opposing team benefits from the point.