Usually the result of an understandably desperate, last-ditch attempt at an interception. In these cynical times, a defender who is said to have contrived to turn the ball into his own goal risks being viewed with undeserved suspicion. Oddly, own goals frequently involve the scorer being credited with putting through his own net. Unfortunate own-goal scorers always have the chance to atone for their error by scoring at the right end (and, therefore, scoring at both ends), even if both goals are literally scored at the same end of the pitch. A confusing concept all round.