An own goal that changed soccer history in many ways. Omar Gonzalez has played over 300 professional soccer game and more than 50 times for his country and I’m guessing this is the first own goal he’s ever scored.
Gonzalez tries to clear the soccer ball but it skims off his leg and up and over the head of Tim Howard in the 16 minute of the World Cup qualifying match versus Trinidad and Tobago.
Sometimes soccer is a cruel game. Gonzalez’s own goal was a freak play. Just unbelievable really and sad that it had to happen in the most important game for Gonzalez and the U.S. team.
The loss wasn’t of course all due to Omar Gonzalez’s own goal. There were many moments in the game that could have enabled the U.S. team to win, shots that hit the post or went just wide. Or what if Alvin Jones was closed down when he took his long range shot? Watching the video below I’m sure you can count numerous reasons the U.S. team lost or could have one the game other than due to the own goal by Gonzalez.
Gonzalez is a class defender and it’s more than harsh to have to have this happen to him. It shows how strong he is as a person and a player that he’s overcome this. Here’s hoping that Gonzalez gets another chance to redeem himself in some way on the world soccer stage.
Seems harsh to have this on your personal Wikipedia page:
On October 10, 2017, Gonzalez scored an own goal in the final game of 2018 World Cup qualifying against Trinidad and Tobago which resulted in a 2-1 loss which prevented the U.S. from qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The U.S. Men’s National faced Trinidad & Tobago in the final match of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and lost.