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Porto's Fernandes gifts Forest with controversial equalizer
Nottingham Forest secured a 1-1 draw in the Europa League quarter-final first leg after Porto defender Martim Fernandes scored a 45-yard own goal on Thursday. The 20-year-old's misplaced backpass sailed past goalkeeper Diogo Costa, leveling the match in bizarre fashion.
The own goal heard around Europe
Fernandes' blunder occurred in the first half when his attempted clearance turned into a long-range own goal. Minutes later, he was substituted due to injury, compounding his night of misfortune. The match ended in a stalemate, giving Forest a slight advantage ahead of the second leg.
Football's most infamous own goals
Fernandes' mistake has reignited discussions about the worst own goals in football history. BBC Sport highlights several unforgettable blunders:
Lee Dixon vs. David Seaman (1991)
Arsenal's legendary backline of Lee Dixon and David Seaman suffered an embarrassing moment during a First Division match against Coventry. Dixon's attempted backpass to Seaman sailed over the goalkeeper's head, resulting in an own goal at Highbury.
Jamie Pollock's acrobatic own goal (1998)
Manchester City's Jamie Pollock scored a spectacular own goal against Queens Park Rangers in a crucial relegation battle. Pollock flicked a QPR cross over goalkeeper Martyn Margetson, putting his team 2-1 down. Though City equalized, they were relegated by a single point.
Franck Queudrue's volleyed clearance (2001)
French defender Franck Queudrue, then playing for Lens, scored one of Ligue 1's most memorable own goals. His 30-yard volleyed clearance looped over his own goalkeeper, capping a night to forget for the left-back.
Chris Brass' facial own goal (2006)
Bury's Chris Brass inadvertently scored when his attempted clearance ricocheted off his face and into the net past Kasper Schmeichel. The impact was so forceful it spared Brass from needing surgery on a previously broken nose.
Sport Recife's 18-second team own goal (2021)
In a Brazilian second-division match, Sport Recife passed the ball among themselves for 18 seconds before Alisson Cassiano rolled it into his own net-without Novorizontino touching the ball. The sequence remains one of football's most bizarre own goals.
What's next for Porto and Forest?
The second leg of the Europa League quarter-final will determine which team advances to the semi-finals. Porto will look to recover from their defensive lapse, while Forest aim to capitalize on their away draw.
"Own goals are part of football, but some are more memorable than others," said a BBC Sport analyst.
