Putting the ball into own's not popularly known as 'an own goal' has become part and parcel of the game of football, While it is despair for the team that concedes it, it is a delight for the opposition that gets the advantage. It is widely thought that own goal is as a result of pressure mounted on the team that concedes it, but some of the own goals conceded these days are just uncalled for, free of pressure what so ever, It just makes the viewers and neutrals think if it were intentional.
One of such bizarre own goal was witnessed in the Major League Soccer (MLS) of the United States of America last week. A match-day 6 between Minnesota United FC and New York City FC. New York City FC's goalkeeper, Sean Johnson conceded an embarrassing pressure-free own goal in his team's 3-3 draw away at Minnesota.
Have a look at the. own goal,
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Both teams come into the tie needing to improve on their league run-in so far. Minnesota, though sits on 6th position on the league have lost 2 out of her last 5 games already and need to keep the pressure on the leading casts of Los Angeles clubs of LA FC and LA Galaxy respectively in the Western Conference, while New York City FC, on the other hand, sits rooted in the Eastern Conference having lost 4 and drew 1 of her 1st-5 league matches prior to the match-day 6, desperately needed a turn around.
The match started with purpose, both teams making their intent to get a result known right from the kickoff. The away side seems to settle quickly and fired the 1st shot on target in the 9th minute which was well saved by Minnesota goalkeeper, and former EPL, Arsenal and Reading stopper, Vito Mannone. It was a wake-up call for the home side who went in front just 4 minutes later when Osvaldo Alonso side-footed into the net. It did not take too long before NYC responded, Ismaael Jajouri-Shradi found teammate, Valentin Castellanos in the box, and the latter obliged with a fine finish. The dust had barely settled down when the away side, NYC put their noses in front, all their dominance paid off when the provider of the 1st goal turned scorer, Tajouri-Shradi found the bottom right corner in the 18th minute to hand his team a 2-1 lead. However, the home team, Minnesota were not going to go down without a fight, they leveled almost immediately, striker, Angelo Rodriguez's header in the 20th minute made the scoreline 2-2, a pulsating end-to-end stuff at the Allianz Field, Minnesota. Then came the moment of truth for NYC goalkeeper, Sean Johnson in the 32nd minute, His teammate and midfielder Ebenezer Ofori played a simple, pressure-free back pass to Johnson, but Johnson sloppiness made him flopped his line and somehow helped the ball into his own net, ARGH! The home side took a slim 3-2 lead into the half-time break.
The 2nd half started with the away side picking dominance from where they left it, their probing and prowling final yielded to an equalizer. It was their Lybian import to the rescue, the attacking midfielder converted a deserved free-kick to complete his double for the night and had his team the way back into the game, 3 all in the 64th minute. With no further goals in the half, both teams seemed to have settled for a point, it ended 3-3 at Minnesota.
Sean Johnson's blushes were saved by his teammates, and just like every player that has ever conceded an own-goal, the next match could not have come any sooner, as they all want to get it off their mind as soon as possible.
No biggie Johnson, better luck next time, an old wise saying;
mistakes are always forgivable if one has the courage to admit them - Bruce Lee
another says;
make mistakes, learn from them, and move on - unknown
Thank you all for your support of Moanday blogs, Happy Easter to everyone.
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