An Own Goal to Remember....

An Own Goal to Remember....

Cheer up fellow Phoenix fans gutted by today�s Sydney game.  This is a true tale of how there is life after even the most diabolical defensive stuff up.  It recounts possibly the best (worst?) own goal ever witnessed on these shores.

The year was 1980, before half the current squad were born.  The match was the season opener, NZ�s equivalent of the charity shield, featuring league v cup winners.  It was played at the now defunct Carlaw Park, between Mt Wellington and North Shore United.  There was some feeling between these two.  The season before, Mount, with probably the best team ever seen in the RSL, had romped to the title.  But Shore had upset them 2-1 in an ill-tempered Chattam Cup final.

It was early in the second half, when a Mount defender, seeing no opening, chose to pass back to his keeper.  He was virtually on the centre circle.  Being some distance across the bumpy rugby league surface, he deemed a normal pass a chancy business.  So instead he lofted it back towards keeper and goal�

The chip itself was a thing of beauty, quite the equal of either the goal which launched Beckham�s career, or Ronaldinho�s winner for Brazil v England in 2002.  For 40m it floated serenely goal bound through the Autumn air.  Sandy Davie, Mount�s top-flight Scottish keeper, back pedalled and leaped.  To no avail.  As the net bulged the Shore fans split themselves laughing.  The comments of the Mount players were fortunately beyond the ground effect microphones.

And who was the villain responsible for this dastardly act?  A promising young centre back, making his debut, of whom more would be heard.  Went by the name of Ricki Herbert.

Pacwarior2007-11-17 22:06:55

I was just getting bored till I read the last two words.

So, you're saying Steven Old might turn out to be coach of the national team, is that it?!

Know THAT feeling. I'm the goalie for Wellington's lacrosse team. A defender rolled the ball along the grass towards me, I went to scoop....and I went straight through my legs. 

Ended up putting in a perfomance good enough to earn the praise of the national team coach later that afternoon, but I still can't forget that own goal.

Don't think I forget those last few minutes of tonights match either

they were and, ouch, it hurts to remember the 9-1 that same team (not sure if same season)  handed out to us... more accurately the 1-9... YIKES!!
dairyflat2007-11-17 23:05:55