Most Embarrassing Spurs Own Goals

Goals win games but from time to time, even the best players are associated with strikes at the wrong end of the pitch. We’re talking about own goals – that time when the unfortunate player puts through his own net to the despair of his teammates and the derision of opposing fans.

Spurs aren’t exempt in this area so let’s get straight on and look at some of the most embarrassing own goals from our recent past.

Kieran Trippier vs Chelsea 2018/19

Of all the Spurs players to represent England at the World Cup, Kieran Trippier is finding it particularly tough to settle back into the Premier League. He’s one of only three English players to score in a World Cup semi final but he’s had a difficult campaign back in north London across 2018/19.

Away to Chelsea at the start of February, a positive result for Tottenham at Stamford Bridge would have put some daylight between the two clubs in the race for the Top Four. As it was, Chelsea gained a clear advantage with this 2-0 win.

Trippier’s Own Goal was a classic case of defender and goalkeeper not being on the same wavelength and in fact, Hugo Lloris came in for as much criticism as Tripps in the aftermath. Sadly, it also secured that 2-0 loss and helped Chelsea to ultimately climb above Tottenham in that Champions League battle.

Fernando Llorente vs Fulham 2018/19

Like Kieran Trippier, Fernando Llorente has been a target for some of the boo boys in 2018/19 and he didn’t help his cause at Fulham in January. Pressed into service up front, the Spaniard did find the net but it just so happened that his strike came at the wrong end of the pitch.

Defending a Fulham corner, the ball evaded heads, deflected off Llorente’s shin and into the back of the net. It was another classic of its kind and just as embarrassing as Trippier’s strike later in the campaign. Fortunately, it wasn’t as costly as an equaliser from Dele Alli and a late winner from Harry Winks clawed the game back.

Gareth Bale vs Liverpool 2012/13

Even the greatest players can fall foul of own goals and they don’t come more embarrassing than this. There are the classic deflections and misplaced back passes and then there’s getting the ball kicked in your face by your own teammate.

Against Liverpool in November 2012, goals from Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale had given Spurs a 2-0 lead over Liverpool but the two would later combine to bring the Reds back into it. Defending from a corner, Lennon was perfectly placed to clear the ball off the line but he merely succeeded in hoofing the ball into Bale’s face. The ball was in the back of the net and suddenly it was game on again.

Fortunately, Tottenham held on and it appeared that everyone could laugh in the aftermath of what was one of the greatest comedy own goals of all time.

Stephen Carr vs Kaiserslautern 1999/2000

Defender Stephen Carr didn’t exactly leave Spurs on good terms – believing Newcastle United to be a bigger club and departing the lane in 2004. He did claw his reputation back somewhat by leading Birmingham City to League Cup final glory over Arsenal but I digress. Carr’s legacy was a couple of spectacular goals, most notably a long range effort from the right flank against Manchester United but before that, he was responsible for a less fortunate contribution.

Playing in what was still referred to as the UEFA Cup, Tottenham were drawn against German unit Kaiserslautern. Having claimed a hard-fought 1-0 lead at White Hart lane in the first leg, Spurs seemed to be holding on until the 89th minute of the return when Andreas Buck equalised. Extra time beckoned but Stephen Carr had other ideas, conceding a free kick and then slotting home Kaiserslautern’s winning own goal on 90 minutes.

The strike itself was embarrassing enough but it’s the timing of Carr’s intervention that made him a ‘must’ for this list.

Toby Alderweireld vs Liverpool 2018/19

We didn’t really help ourselves in the 2018/19 campaign and please accept our apologies if this light hearted review is starting to get a little depressing. Against Liverpool in March, it seemed as though Spurs were set to take a rare point away from Anfield. Locked at 1-1 approaching stoppages, it was time for our defence to intervene once again.

Officially, it was credited as a Toby Alderweireld own goal but this time, Hugo Lloris should really claim more than an assist. An innocuous header from Mohamed Salah was dropped on to Toby’s foot and that was that. Once again, we proved how success can be snatched away by the inadvertent contributions of our own players.

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