Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

Gareth Bale scored 'freak' own goal against Liverpool and recorded unique feat

talksport.com, 19 November 2023, 10:00
Gareth Bale was left with egg on his face - and a couple of bruises - in November 2012 after an unfortunate own goal against Liverpool.

Then at Tottenham, Bale might not have realised that he would reap revenge in the best way possible five years later.

In November 2012, the Welshman scored a beauty of a free-kick against Liverpool from 25 yards out, leaving Pepe Reina motionless and helpless to give Spurs a 2-0 lead.

However, it would be a moment quickly forgotten when Liverpool pulled one back - via Bale's forehead.

After Steven Gerrard headed towards goal from a Jonjo Shelvey corner, Aaron Lennon cleared the ball off the line with some venom.

Unfortunately for him, Bale was stood about a foot away and felt the full force of Lennon's clearance in his face as the ball cannoned back and into the net comical yet bizarre fashion.

READ MORE ON TOTTENHAM

Heung-Min Son gives injury update after knock during South Korea victory

Old Spurs stadium among the best but I hated ground that made me shower with opposition

The Sky Sports co-commentator could not hide a Freudian slip when he said: "Well the first ball is won by [Daniel] Agger and then Gerrard back across goal.

"Aaron Lennon on the goal line thinks he's done a good clearance.

"But unfortunately, it hits his colleague Gareth Bale straight in the fails - face! Nothing Bale can do about it."

It was a unique feat as it meant Bale became the second Tottenham player to score at both ends in the same match in the Premier League era after Chris Armstrong did it against Arsenal in March 2000.

Most read in Football

Arsenal fans stunned as Havertz plays left back for Germany and scores after five minutes

'Hollywood nil' - Accrington chairman taunts Reynolds after beating Wrexham and ticket row

'Unstoppable' Lauren James makes WSL history by single-handedly destroying Liverpool

Man United fans love leaked 2024/25 kits which feature throwback to Van Nistelrooy era

Speaking after the match, club captain Michael Dawson gave his thoughts, saying: "To give the goal away in such a freak incident… not the best performance but we got the three points."

It is true that Bale was powerless during the freak own goal, simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time as the ball ricocheted off his face.

But six years later, now at Real Madrid, the forward would have his revenge - scoring arguably the greatest Champions League goal of all time.

Real Madrid took on Liverpool in the Champions League final in Kiev and Bale was shockingly named on the bench.

After Loris Karius' error saw Karim Benzema score just as Sadio Mane equalised, Zinedine Zidane sent on the Wales international to wreak havoc - and he made an immediate impact.

Less than two minutes later, Bale pulled off an outrageous bicycle kick from Marcelo's cross, lifting off the floor with jaw-dropping athleticism before connecting perfectly with the ball.

Karius had no chance as the ball sailed into the back of the net, leaving fans from both sides stunned after witnessing a piece of footballing history.

But Bale was not done yet as 20 minutes later, he finished the contest.

He took a pot shot from about 40 yards to test Karius, who had looked shaky throughout the evening.

And Bale's luck came in, as the ball dipped and swerved leaving the Liverpool goalkeeper second-guessing, ultimately palming it into his own net.

Read More on talkSPORT

Hoddle responds to Beckham family's criticism in Netflix doc: 'I've got no problem'

Simon Jordan laughs as Martin Keown jokes he'll 'leave studio' in heated Arsenal debate

The winger's double handed Real Madrid their 13th Champions League title - and their third in a row.

It also meant that Bale's unfortunate own goal would become a forgotten moment when his name was searched alongside Liverpool, quite the double victory for him.

Top News

2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion Women will welcome Aston Villa Women to Broadfield Stadium for Sunday's Women's Super League contest. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United must reportedly fend off the threat of two European heavyweights if they are to acquire one of their top defensive targets this summer. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides with contrasting objectives clash in the Turkish Super Lig when Samsunspor host Trabzonspor at the Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu on Saturday evening. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A long-serving Liverpool defender is reportedly open to exploring a move away from Anfield this summer alongside Jurgen Klopp. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly set their sights on bringing a former Arsenal number one back to the Premier League this summer. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sporting Lisbon will be looking to take another step towards securing the Primeira Liga title when they play host to Portimonense at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Saturday. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino felt that his players showed the qualities required to improve as a team during their 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Last season's runners-up Fiorentina secured a brilliant 3-2 victory thanks to M'Bala Nzola's 91st-minute winner against Club Brugge after a fascinating first leg. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Last season's runners-up Fiorentina secured a brilliant 3-2 victory thanks to M'Bala Nzola's 91st-minute winner against Club Brugge after a fascinating first leg. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen recorded a 2-0 victory over Roma in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final in Italy on Thursday night. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chancel Mbemba cancelled out an opener from Gianluca Scamacca, as Marseille drew 1-1 with Atalanta BC in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final in France on Thursday night. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea strengthened their hopes of European qualification while inflicting the latest blow on Tottenham Hotspur's top-four bid with a deserved 2-0 win over their London rivals in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Unai Emery has made three changes to his Aston Villa XI for Thursday's Europa Conference League semi-final first leg against Olympiacos. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to address their woeful run of form at the end of this campaign, Coventry City will welcome Queens Park Rangers to the Coventry Building Society Arena on Saturday afternoon in the Championship. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On Saturday, Everton Ladies will welcome Tottenham Hotspur Ladies to Walton Hall Park for their final home game of the Women's Super League season. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Needing a point to guarantee their Championship survival, Sheffield Wednesday will head to the Stadium of Light to meet Sunderland on the final day of the season on Saturday. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have made five changes for Thursday's Premier League game at Chelsea. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has reportedly picked up a foot injury, which could rule him out of Saturday's La Liga clash against Cadiz. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have received a timely injury boost ahead of Sunday's Premier League showdown with Tottenham Hotspur, as one of their injury victims was pictured in full training on Wednesday. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly planning to offer Crystal Palace the chance to re-sign Aaron Wan-Bissaka as part of a deal which could see Michael Olise move to Old Trafford. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Three days on from their Champions League semi-final first-leg victory in midweek, Borussia Dortmund return to Westfalenstadion to welcome Augsburg for a Bundesliga clash on Saturday afternoon. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fresh from their Champions League semi-final bout in midweek, Bayern Munich travel to the MHPArena to face Stuttgart in a top-three clash in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Monaco will attempt to tighten their grip on second spot when they face basement side Clermont in Saturday's Ligue 1 fixture at Stade Louis-II. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has reportedly made a decision on his future at the Emirates amid reports that the Gunners could try to offload him in the upcoming transfer window. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could reportedly let three of their academy products leave the club this summer as a means of raising funds for their pursuit of Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag said that Jadon Sancho demonstrated that he is "a very good player" with his performance for Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic play host to Hearts on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that will move them a step closer to defending their Scottish Premiership title. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Still vying for a place in Europe thanks to their recent revival, Lazio visit mid-table Monza on Saturday evening. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City will be bidding to reach the 100-point mark when the already-crowned Championship winners play host to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon. 2 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The only team to beat champions Inter Milan in Serie A this season, Sassuolo continue their fight for survival when the two sides meet again on Saturday evening.