What do Harry Kane and Riyad Mahrez have in common? And how about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo? Well all of them are seasoned goal scorers, although two are human while the other two are extra-terrestrial. The point is everyone loves a player who can score goals. That is why we watch the game; that is why we remember the names.
There have however been unfortunate incidences where players find themselves in a precarious position, not because they have scored, but because they have scored in the wrong net. Some have managed to redeem themselves by cancelling out the own goal with a goal on the opposite end, while others have left supporters baying for blood at full time.
Although such cases are few and far between, here are four players who have scored a goal and an own goal in the same match in the Premier League this season.
Troy Deeney vs Manchester United
Troy Deeney looked to have salvaged a point for the hosts at Vicarage road back in November when Marcos Rojo was adjudged to have committed a foul in the penalty area by match official Robert Madley. Rojo pulled his left foot forward inadvisably tripping Odion Ighalo, leaving the referee without much of an option.
The Watford skipper calmly converted from the spot kick by smashing a low ball right through the middle, sending De Gea the wrong way. However at the tail end of the match, Bastian Schweinsteiger drove a cross from a tight angle towards the face of goal but Deeney inadvertently slid it into the back of the net in a bid to block the attempt.
With that, Manchester United went on to win the game 2-1 with the most unlikely of match winners.
Olivier Giroud vs Sunderland
Joel Campbell scored the opener against Sunderland in December last year but it was Olivier Giroud that leveled the score for the Black Cats with an own goal right at the stroke of half time. Yann M’Vila swung a free-kick into the near post but Giroud was at his most calamitous in his defensive duties, as he flung the ball past Petr Cech and into the top corner; almost without breaking a sweat.
The French international however made amends for his defensive blunder in the second half by being on the finishing end of an Aaron Ramsey cross, scoring the equalizer with a diving header. Coincidentally, the goal was on the same near post as his own-goal in the first half.
With their noses in front, Arsenal drew inspiration as they went on to win the match 3-1.
John Terry vs Everton
When John Terry successfully led Chelsea to securing their fourth Premier League title last season, only putting up a strong title defense would suffice the dominance exhibited the previous season. However, the dawn of the 2015/16 season saw age creep in for the Chelsea captain as a series of sluggish, insipid performances saw Terry maligned for the better half of the season by Jose Mourinho, and rightly so.
He nonetheless reclaimed his place in the starting xi following the appointment of Guus Hiddink as interim manager. Regardless, Terry didn’t help to his cause by scoring own goal against Everton in mid January at Stamford Bridge. The 35-year old was lucky to have scored the 98th minute equalizer in a 3-3 thriller against the Toffees, as he was well offside but missed by the assistant referee.
Craig Dawson vs Tottenhan Hotspur
Tottenham suffered a shocking setback to their title contention when they drew 1-1 with West Brom on Monday. Spurs seemed on course to victory when Craig Dawson’s attempt at a Christian Eriksen cross saw him hastily bundle the leather into his own net during the first half, but his header in the 73rd minute provided a lifeline for the Baggies who went on to secure a vital point away from home.
With only three games before the end of the 2015/16 Premier League season, do you think we’ll see more players scoring a goal and an own goal in the same match?
Written by Brian Humphrey
Follow Brian on Twitter @brihum
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