Scoring a goal should be one of the best feelings a footballer should ever experience. Unfortunately for these 10 hapless souls, that euphoric feeling was lost on them when they managed to score some of the most spectacular own goals of all time. Here’s our list of the top 10 own goals ever scored.
10. Lee Dixon vs. Coventry
Who knew that Arsenal full-back Lee Dixon was a trendsetter? His sublime chip over David Seaman was faithfully recreated by Nayim and Ronaldinho who repeated the trick years later; however, Dixon can lay claim to being the first to have lobbed Seaman from 30 yards. And believe me, that is no mean feat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpSo1aciPqU
9. Franck Queudrue vs. Bastia
Carrying on the theme of glorious lobs is former Middlesbrough and Birmingham City favourite Franck Queudrue. The French defender started his career with Lens and this beauty comes from his time at the French club. Queudrue shows remarkable technique in volleying the ball almost 40 yards up in the air past his despairing goalkeeper who does a remarkable job impersonating David Seaman.
8. John Arne Riise vs. Chelsea
During his time with Liverpool, Riise became renowned for scoring spectacular goals. Unfortunately, these weren’t restricted to the opposition end. Riise found the back of his own net in stoppage time against Chelsea when he converted a Salmon Kalou cross with a bullet diving header that beat Pepe Reina all ends up. Riise’s own goal proved decisive as Liverpool were eliminated from the Champions League after they lost the tie 4-3 on aggregate to Chelsea.
7. Djimi Traore vs. Burnley
Like the venerable Martin Luther King, Djimi Traore had a dream. His dream was that he believed he was a half-decent footballer. He decided to put his dream to the test against Burnley in the third round of the 2005 FA Cup. He attempted a drag-back turn on his own goal line. To no-one’s real surprise, it didn’t come off and Traore ended up dragging the ball clumsily into his own net, looking more like Ronald McDonald than Ronaldinho. Traore’s delusions of grandeur were put firmly in check and he went back to the average footballer we all knew that he was.
6. Jamie Pollock vs. QPR
Manchester City defender Jamie Pollock shows all the poise and composure of a centre-forward with this consummate finish against QPR. He manages to lift the ball over an onrushing attacker and skilfully loop a header over his own goalie with a header than even John Arne Riise would have been proud of.
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5. Peter Enckelman vs. Birmingham City
Aston Villa goalkeeper Peter Enkelman will forever be remembered for this howler in the Birmingham derby of 2002. Defender Olof Mellberg took a quick thrown-in to Enckelman who failed to control the ball which then rolled under his foot and into the goal. There have been question-marks about whether the goal should have counted as Enckelman said that he did not touch the ball. However, what is certain is that Enckelman’s mistake has landed him the number 5 spot in list of top 10 own goals.
4. Gary Neville vs. Croatia
The number 4 spot goes to Gary Neville’s freak own goal against Croatia. The United defender attempted an innocuous looking back-pass to Paul Robinson. However, the ball took a wicked bounce over a divot. With Robinson kicking fresh air, the ball rolled agonisingly into the back of the net as Borat looked on. Yakshemash indeed!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEuyfJGg7AA
3. Goran Rubil vs. Locomotiva
The first foreign entry in our list is probably the best finish of the lot. Hadjuk Split’s Goran Rubil shows others how a real own goal is scored by doing so in emphatic fashion with a right-footed pile-driver against Locomotiva.
2. Tony Popovic vs. Portsmouth
Crystal Palace’s Australian defender Tony Popovic displayed skill that no-one thought he had by scoring a sumptuous backheel goal which Gianfranco Zola would have been envious of. Portsmouth’s Steve Stone puts in a hopeful ball into the box which Popovic finishes with a nonchalant flick of his heel into the top corner.
1. Chris Brass vs. Darlington
While not the most beautiful or the most emphatic of the goals on our list, Chris Brass’s effort against Darlington takes the top prize simply for being the most comical. The Bury defender’s attempt at an overhead clearance goes horribly wrong when the ball smashes off his face and into the net. To add insult to injury, Brass broke his nose when the ball hit him in the face. Football to the face. An absolute classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1csQG0ZciFQ
Any other own-goal calamities you feel should have made the list?
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