We’ve been treated to a plethora of Premier League 2023 highlights, but this time, SOBTOP puts the spotlight on the most unfortunate own goals to have ever happened in the English top-flight.
An own goal is never fun for the player, the team, or the supporters. But occasionally, they receive a casual attitude and end up becoming a souvenir for football fans to look back on.
Here are a few of the Premier League’s most tragic and comical own goals in its history.
Gareth Bale: Tottenham vs Liverpool
There was a time when Welsh golden boy Gareth Bale was the lead man for Tottenham Hotspur. Bale was known for his tenacious speed and his masterful free kicks. But to some, he was known for one of the most embarrassing own goal in club history.
Back in 2012, the Spurs hosted Liverpool for a Premier League bout, where the home team came out as the victors in a narrow 2-1 score line at White Hart Lane. But a lot of Spurs fans knew that the match shouldn’t have been that close.
The Spurs were dominating the match, and blew the game open when winger Gareth Bale slotted a beautiful free kick to the back of the net giving his team a 2-0 lead. Bale was coming off a high from scoring a spectacular goal, that he was hungry to score more, even if it was in his own net.
Halfway through the second half, Liverpool had a convincing chance for a goal when Steven Gerrard headed the ball off a precise corner. Gerrard’s attempt was a real threat, but thankfully for the home team, Aaron Lennon was on the line to clear the ball to safety, or so everyone thought.
Bale, who was caught in the fray, was inches away from Lennon as he was trying to clear the ball. This resulted to the Spurs winger eating a football in the face before scoring an own goal. He then collapsed to the ground in agony, pain, and inevitably, embarrassment.
Phil Jones: Newcastle vs Manchester United
In the same year as Bale’s own goal, Man United’s Phil Jones caused quite a comedic blunder as well. Newcastle were demolishing United at St James’ Park. It was a tough loss for United to endure because they were chasing City in the league standings.
Newcastle were up 2-0 thanks to Demba Ba and Yohan Cabaye’s efforts. When the clock ticked into stoppage time, the game was pretty much in the books. It was too late for United to mount a comeback, and Phil Jones’ own goal didn’t help their cause at all.
The Manchester United defender was trying to deal with a long ball from the other side of the field. He was caught in a bad angle and in an awkward spot when the ball was coming to him. He back pedaled and headed the ball for what seemed to be a pass to David de Ge, but the goal keeper covered a threatening Newcastle player inside the box.
The ball instead found itself slotted at the corner of the Red Devil’s goal. The game ended in a 3-0 score line, and will be remembered as one of Phil Jones ’most memorable moments.
Rio Ferdinand: Portsmouth vs Manchester United
There are not many instances more humorous in football than an own goal, but Rio Ferdinand was anything but humored when he scored against his own team at Fratton Park.
Man United visited Pompey for a classic Premier League clash. The home team scored the opening goal giving them the early league, but a few moments after, Portsmouth had another crack at goal as the ball was delivered to a sprinting Lomano LuaLua in the middle, but Ferdinand played it well to extinguish the threat.
Keeper Edwin van der Sar was already to scoop up the ball away from the skirmish, but Ferdinand was not aware of this and kicked to ball towards the box instead. Van der Sar was already out the blocks so they were forced to just watch the ball gingerly roll towards the goal.
Pompey held on to win the match, ending United’s six-win streak. It was a tough day for United, but it was horrid for Ferdinand.
Lauren: Manchester City vs Arsenal
This one might be the most head scratcher of an own goal you’ll ever witnessed. Back in 2013, The Premier League 2023 odds favourite Manchester City hosted Arsenal at Etihad Stadium.
Lauren received a long ball from the other side of the field, he then managed to control the ball and even carried the ball for quite some time. He was charging with the ball as a Manchester City player was behind him. But the bizarre thing is, he’s heading towards his own goal.
Everyone was confused as it was happening, but no one was more befuddled than Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. He was evidently confused on what was happening as a rushing Lauren came his way. To Lauren’s defence, he struck a beautiful goal, only if it was on the right one.
Santiago Vergini: Southampton vs Sunderland
In my opinion, this might be the most skilled own goal in the history of the Premier League. In 2014, Vergini and the rest of Sunderland were properly demolished by Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium. The home team drowned Sunderland with an 8-0 score line, but the goal of the match was by far Vergini’s own goal.
Southampton scored an early goal to give them the early lead, and minutes later, they were charging with purpose yet again. They shared and carried the ball perfectly in the midfield all the way to the box.
Sunderland defenders collapsed into the middle when the attack looked too close for comfort, the ball then found its way to the feet of defender Santiago Vergini.
Vergini attempted to clear the ball out of danger quick because of multiple Southampton players rushing towards him. But instead of clearing the ball, he delivered a Beckham-esque strike that bended in the air so perfectly towards the corner of the net.
It was both a match to remember and a match to forget for Vergini.
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