Since I have started watching football, there have been some pretty good goals from the likes of Rooney and Messi and so on. But where there are screamers, there are also finishes that if they were in the right net, would surely be contenders for goal of the season. Here I have put together ten own goals that have probably made it into several bloopers videos and will certainly make it into many more.
10. Carl Jenkinson - You've just been signed for Arsenal from Charlton by Arsene Wenger and you're trying to make a good impression and show the manager you're not a complete waste of money. So what do you do? If you're Carl Jenkinson you would lob the ball over your own goalkeeper from 30 yards!
[youtube EQAeGbjU3bY]
9. Tony Popovic - Had this beauty from former Crystal Palace defender Tony Popovic been in the right net, it surely would be an early contender for goal of the century. With Portsmouth already 2-1 up, Popovic decides to try and cleverly flick the ball to God knows where, only to flick the ball over his own goalkeeper. It's worth a watch.
[youtube oP3jbpcCo2E]
8. Festus Baise - Another goal where it's not quite clear what the defender is trying to achieve. Sun Hei defender Festus Baise, like the previous own goal, is trying to look clever, only to flick the ball over his own keeper. The difference with this one, though is this one is from the edge of the penalty area. You can tell the standard in Hong Kong football is not terribly high.
[youtube Feurle7qkfQ]
7. Jamie Pollock - This own goal from Manchester City's Jamie Pollock was just brilliant. Just outside his own area, Pollock volleyed it over on opposing striker and then headed the ball over his own keeper. There was only one question City fans were asking Pollock after this game. Why?
[youtube eWNjWfIHXL4]
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6. Assaf Mendes - On this extremely windy day when Maccabi Haifa were playing Dynamo Kiev in a practice match, Haifa goalkeeper Assaf Mendes put the ball on the ground to kick it to one his teams players. He kicked it about 25 yards up the pitch when the wind took control and took the ball back the way it came, straight past the arms of poor goalkeeper Mendes.
[youtube O4tVtfDTqJs]
5. Lee Dixon - MOTD pundit Lee Dixon is still made fun of for this one, despite it happening 21 years ago! Just outside his own area, Dixon attempts to pass it back to goalkeeper David Seaman, only for the ball to loop over Seaman's head.
[youtube MpSo1aciPqU]
4. Ashraf Soliman - This next one is all the way from Israel. With the score tied at 2-2, Ashraf Soliman scored 7 minutes into extra time to send through opposition Umm al-Fahm to the next round. The own goal would normally be described as a poacher's finish. Soliman didn't seem to fully understand...
[youtube nAxBWcNTgns]
3. Diego Sosa - If this next one isn't deliberate, I don't know what is. Diego Sosa of San Martin just sees his goalkeeper parry the ball to him after an Estudiantes shot, only for him to power the ball straight past him. What was going through his mind?
[youtube XAAuHp-FsKo]
2. Kenny Farrell - This one is more unlucky than anything else. Mervue United's Kenny Farrell attempted to clear the ball in a tense game against Waterford, only for the ball to smack team-mate Mike Elwood on the face and go over the goalkeepers head. The twist? This happened from about 35 yards from their own goal!
[youtube w8gCRnuWOxo]
1. Chris Brass - It's pretty fair to say that no own goal list or bloopers video is complete without this beauty from Bury's Chris Brass against Darlington. Trying to clear the ball over his head, the ball whacks Brass in the nose and goes past his goalkeeper, breaking Brass' nose in the process. Unlucky, eh?
[youtube Ds0wEBKuxv8]
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If you have a spare 5mins then take a look of the latest 'Football Coffee Break'
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