Mexico defender Edson Alvarez's 74th-minute own-goal against Sweden on Wednesday was the eighth time at this year's World Cup that a player has sent the ball into his team's net – a tournament record – and Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer made it nine on an unlucky bounce.
And there are still 20 more matches to be played.
As with many of the earlier miscues, Alvarez was trying to clear a cross in the box. But it bounced off of him and inside the left goalpost as keeper Guillermo Ochoa watched helplessly.
Sommer found a more creative way to calamity: He scored the tying goal for Costa Ricadeep in injury time when Bryan Ruiz's penalty kick hit the crossbar and ricocheted off the back of his head and into the net, prompting a rueful smile.
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Mexico lost 3-0 and Switzerland drew 2-2 but Alvarez and Sommer can take heart — Mexico, Switzerland and the host Russians are the only teams so far to make it out of their groups after scoring on themselves.
Prior to this World Cup, the competition in France in 1998 had the dubious record of having the most number of own goals. There were six such instances which included goals from Brazil, Norway, France, Germany, Spain and Nigeria.
With the competition reaching the knockout stage, let’s hope teams stop committing such mistakes which can easily send them packing home.
(With inputs from AP)
(For complete FIFA World Cup 2018 coverage, click here to visit our special WC page.)