Own goals come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some are unluckier than others but this one is in a league all of its own.
This clip comes to us from the Chinese National Games Under 20 semi-final between Xinjiang and Liaoning. A fairly routine ball into the box leads to the first mistake, as a Xinjiang defender tries to clear the ball, but he only balloons it up in the air.
A second defender then attempts to clear the dropping ball with a rather spectacular, and unnecessary, overhead volley. He makes a complete bags of it and not only does he almost perform a total air shot, but he makes just enough contact to put a vicious spin on the ball.
The ball hits the turf and spins towards goal where the keeper makes the third and final mistake as he fails to control the ball, which eventually rolls in the net.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAM5MxP87Gc
We’ve certainly never seen a goal quite like it. And it was the only goal of the game, meaning it cost Xinjiang a place in the final.
Sickener.
