The curse of an own goal

Michael Oriedo

Football commentators love the word 'goal'. Shouting whenever a player is about to score or when he scores is an indication of how eagerly many commentators wait for that moment.

"Goooooooooooaal! What a terrific goal," commentators repeatedly roar as they shower the goal scorer with praise.

Anyone who has listened to Kenyan commentators on radio will tell you that it is often a tense moment when a goal is about to be scored.

And what follows from the commentators when the ball hits the net often captures the excitement in the pitch.

However, there are instances when the announcers find it difficult to celebrate a goal.

An example is when a team scores an own goal. On such occasions, most commentators sympathise with the team and wish them a ‘quick recovery’, as the match progresses.

This is because scoring an own goal is akin to setting your house ablaze.

Often, teams that score in their own nets end up losing the matches, partly because of the discouragement that follows.

While many players do their best to avoid the error, sometimes scoring an own goal is unavoidable.

In March 2010, strong winds made a player of a German lower division team to score an own goal after the wind deflected the ball into the net.

According to a story on Yahoo Sports, TSV Grunbach was playing TSV Wimsheim. Then in the second half, the Grunbach’s player went to take a goal kick.

However, strong winds moved the ball preventing him from kicking it.

Ball careened

The referee then blew the whistle and feeling "sufficiently philanthropic", volunteered to hold the ball on the turf to allow the player kick it.

The number three player kicked the ball but instead of it moving towards the centre of the pitch, it went up in the air.

The player watched helplessly as the ball careened 15-metres back, beating the goalkeeper and into the net.

The referee consequently awarded the goal to Wimsheim. At the end of the game, Wimsheim won two one.

You could say the ‘gods’ conspired against Grunbach, but Wimsheim players called it luck.

Talking of being fortunate, luck favoured a prepared Iraq side in the recently concluded Asian Cup.

The team, playing against United Arab Emirates (UAE), won the match one nil after their opponents scored an own goal in injury time.

"We are all very disappointed because we played a good match. To concede an own goal in injury time is a shock. It is really hard to accept," lamented UAE coach, Srecko Katanec.

"An own-goal at the end is a bit lucky, but we fought all the time and forced our luck. We had three strikers at the front, which gave us the reward," offered Iraq’s coach, Wolfgang Sidka.

During the 2010 World Cup, the own goal curse fell on Denmark and hounded them out of the tournament.

In the match, Denmark had frustrated Netherlands until defender Simon Poulsen headed the ball into the net as they tried to clear a cross.

Cold water

"That was like pouring a bucket of cold water over our heads," a frustrated Denmark coach Morten Olsen said. "Simon Poulsen was one of our better players but he was unlucky. It’s one of those things that happen in soccer."

So, what are the risks of scoring an own goal? The error can be fatal.

Andre Escobar, a celebrated Columbian footballer, paid with his life after scoring an own goal in the 1994 World Cup.

Assassins pumped into his body 12 bullets because the mistake had cost them millions in gambling.

Scoring an own goal, it seems, is one of the most regrettable and unforgivable sins in soccer.