own goal
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own goal
In sports, especially in soccer, a goal that a player accidentally scores in their own team's goal.
Durch ein unglückliches Eigentor in der letzten Minute verlor die Mannschaft das Spiel.
The team lost the game because of an unfortunate own goal in the last minute.
The word is a clear compound of 'eigen' (own) and 'Tor' (goal). So it literally describes a goal that one scores into one's 'own' team's goal.
Das Spiel wurde durch ein Eigentor in der letzten Minute entschieden.
The game was decided by an own goal in the last minute.
The figurative meaning is used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'sich ein Eigentor schießen' (to score an own goal). It means that you unintentionally harm yourself through your own action.
Mit seiner Kritik am Chef hat er sich ein klassisches Eigentor geschossen.
With his criticism of the boss, he scored a classic own goal.
In the idiom 'sich ein Eigentor schießen' (to score an own goal), the reflexive pronoun 'sich' is in the dative. The person who harms themselves is the subject of the sentence.
Du schießt dir nur ein Eigentor, wenn du die Prüfung ohne Vorbereitung versuchst.
You're only scoring an own goal if you try to take the exam without preparing.
gate / goal
'das Tor' and 'das Eigentor' can both refer to a goal in sports. 'Tor' is the general word for a goal. 'Eigentor' is a special case: a player accidentally scores in their own team's goal. Because of that, the point counts for the opponent. The words can be confused because every 'Eigentor' is also a 'Tor', but not every 'Tor' is an 'Eigentor'. In addition, 'ein Eigentor schießen' (to score an own goal) is also used figuratively when someone harms themselves.
Der Verteidiger schießt ein Eigentor, weil er den Ball falsch trifft.
The defender scores an own goal because he mis-hits the ball.
Das erste Tor fällt schon nach fünf Minuten.
The first goal comes after just five minutes.