Team's embarrassing ricochet goal. The 2010 World Cup's first own goal
By Brooks Peck
Outside of Germany's bandwagon-strengthening 4-0 win over Australia on Sunday, goal scoring seems to be down from where it was through the first few games of the 2006 World Cup. Whether it's the ball, the pitch, the vuvuzelas, or something that can't be used as a scapegoat like mere coincidence, goals have been so hard to come by that it even took nine matches before the first giggle-inducing own goal.
Denmark remedied the lack of own goals, though, with a pinball-like effort just after halftime of their match against the Netherlands on Monday. Defender Simon Poulson (pictured above, No. 15 in white) tried to head away a Netherlands cross, but instead of clearing it, he knocked it into the back of teammate Daniel Agger, causing it to ricochet into the net. Have a look:
Ned 1 Den 0Poulsen couldn't help but smile at his own misfortune -- probably not the reaction Danish fans shared after handing over a lead against a good team in their opening World Cup match -- but tried to make up for the incident later in the match by saving a goal with a tremendous bicycle kick clearance. Still, Denmark lost 2-0. But this is something they can improve on! They proved they can score. Now they just have to do it on the right net.