What Does OG Mean in Soccer?

If you’ve landed here, you might have just heard the term “OG” in soccer and are wondering what it means. OG stands for “Own Goal,” which is when a player accidentally scores a goal for the opposing team. In another scenario, OG stands for Original Gangsta but not here. 

An example of an own goal would be when a player accidentally deflects the ball into their own net while attempting to clear it away.

Key Takeaways From This Article:

• The abbreviation in soccer for own goal is ‘OG.
• An OG is when a player scores a goal for the other team. In 99% of cases, it’s a mistake.
• An own goal is credited to the defender who got the touch on the ball and scored.

Here are some memorable own goals in professional soccer…

There’s no doubt that an own goal can be a frustrating and embarrassing moment for the player and their team. But, it’s typically an unlucky play that happens when a player is in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In this article, we’ll dig deeper into OG or own goal.

What is OG in Soccer?

As we mentioned in the intro, OG stands for “own goal,” which is when a player accidentally scores a goal for the opposing team.

An own goal is counted as a goal for the opposing team, and it can be a huge blow for the team that concedes it.

It can also be a bit embarrassing for the player who “scores it”, as they are essentially helping the other team score.

Origin

The term “own goal” has been used in soccer for over a century, but the abbreviation “OG” is a more recent development. It’s unclear exactly when the term started being used, but it’s likely that it became popular in the 1990s or 2000s.

How Can a Player Score an Own Goal?

A player can score on their own goal in soccer by accidentally or intentionally kicking or heading the ball into their own team’s goal, resulting in a goal being scored for the opposition.

This can happen due to a misjudgment, such as when a player attempts to head the ball to their goalkeeper or put the ball out of play, or misfortune when a player is the victim of a deflection.

Other reasons for an own goal include wrong positioning in front of the goalkeeper or being under pressure from the opposition

Rules and Regulations

On an own goal, the goal is credited to the offensive player who last touched the ball before it went into their own team’s goal.

According to the rules and regulations of soccer, an OG is scored when the ball crosses the goal line and into the net of the team that the player is defending, without any intervention from an attacking player.

This means that the player who scored the OG did so unintentionally, and it was not caused by any deliberate action from an opposing player.

If this goal was intentional then teams have a bigger problem on their hands.

Own Goal Examples

One famous example is the own goal scored by Andres Escobar of Colombia during the 1994 FIFA World Cup. In the match against the United States, Escobar accidentally scored an own goal, which ultimately led to Colombia’s elimination from the tournament. Unfortunately and sadly, this own goal cost Escobar his life.

Another example is the OG scored by John Arne Riise of Liverpool during a match against Chelsea in 2007. Riise attempted to clear a cross with his head from Chelsea’s Shaun Wright-Phillips, but instead, he ended up scoring an OG, giving Chelsea the lead.

Effects of an Own Goal in Soccer

Impact on the Game

Own goals, or OGs, can have a significant impact on the outcome of a soccer match.

When a player accidentally scores a goal in their own team’s net, it can shift the momentum of the game and give the opposing team an advantage.

This can be especially devastating in high-stakes matches, such as championship games or international competitions.

In addition to affecting the score, an own goal can also have a psychological impact on the player who scored it and their teammates.

It can lead to feelings of frustration, guilt, and even embarrassment. This can affect the player’s performance for the rest of the game and potentially even future games. In these cases, having a short-term memory of it can be advantageous.

Own Goal Statistics

Own goals are recorded in official match records and can be used to track a team’s defensive performance.

A high number of own goals can indicate weaknesses in a team’s defense and may prompt coaches to make changes to their strategy.

From recent data, about 8.9% of Premier League matches result in an own goal. That seems pretty high to me but data is data. Further expanding on it, defenders are the most likely to score an own goal…which makes complete sense!

My Thoughts On Own Goals

Now that you know what OG stands for in soccer, you can confidently use this term when chatting about the sport.

Remember that OG is an abbreviation for “own goal,” which is when a player accidentally scores a point for the opposing team by kicking or heading the ball into their own goal.

It’s important to note that while OGs can be embarrassing for the player who scored, they are a rather common occurrence in soccer.

It is often the result of a mistake or misjudgment rather than a lack of skill. In fact, some OGs can even be attributed to bad luck or an unpredictable bounce of the ball.

If you score for the other team, just shake it off. That’s all you can do! I know this is easier said than done but there is no point in dwelling about it. Don’t make one mistake compound into several. Instead, put it in the past, leave it there, and go out and try your best!

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