Greatest Own Goals of All-Time No.16
James Collins of West Ham United is the unfortunate man to feature in this week’s ‘Greatest Own Goals of All-Time’.
He scored a freak own goal in West Ham’s match away to Manchester City on 19th April 2015 to give City the lead after 18 minutes. Sergio Aguero would double the lead on 36 minutes but it was the own goal from Collins that everybody tuned into Match of the Day for that evening!
Jesus Navas ran forward in possession, looked up an spotted Sergio Aguero further upfield and in space down the middle of the pitch. James Collins was tracking back and when Navas hit a hopeful through ball for Aguero to chase, Collins was quick to intercept.
Sadly for Collins and his West Ham team mates, a pretty simple clearance went freakishly wrong and ended up in the back of the net.
Collins seemed to stumble forward as if he lost his footing, the ball skewed up high into the air and over goalkeeper Adrian, who was standing just outside his six yard box.
Adrian was caught totally flat-footed as he hadn’t been expecting the ball to suddenly change direction. He spun round to see the ball clip the underside of the bar bounce over the line and hit the back of the net. For some reason the West Ham goalkeeper did a strange star jump after the ball went into the goal, maybe out of frustration but it certainly helped to add comedic value!
Manchester City finished the season as runners-up to Chelsea in the league and West Ham finished 12th.
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