The Greatest Own Goal Of All-Time

Scotland’s Willie Donachie was one of those defenders you never really noticed. Ever dependable and unflustered he was a manager’s dream. He rarely made a mistake. However on May 17th 1978 he made one that led to undoubtedly the greatest own goal of all-time.

The Scotland v Wales match was a Home International Championship tie played before a large crowd at Hampden Park. Earlier that year Scotland had defeated Wales in somewhat controversial circumstances. A victory that paved the way to the 1978 World Cup Finals in Argentina.

The Greatest Own Goal Of All-Time

A dubious penalty was awarded for handball against Wales defender David Jones (replays showed Scotland’s Joe Jordan actually committed the handball) and a Kenny Dalglish header had seen Scotland win 2-0 at Anfield.

Fresh from this defeat the Welsh were out looking for revenge in front of the ferocious home Scottish support.

It wasn’t going well for Wales. Devoid of any attacking ideas and losing 1-0 a disappointing performance and a subsequent defeat seemed on the cards. Scotland only needed to hold on to the win to go a point behind England in the group. And in the process set up a winner-takes-all showdown at Hampden again just three days later.

Time-Wasting Scots

In the last minute of the game, Scotland began to try winding the clock down. As was the case back then they passed the ball between their defenders and back to Jim Blyth, the Scottish goalkeeper. A scene not too unfamiliar during the game back then.

The Hampden Park crowds sang as they waited for the final whistle. Safe in the knowledge that what appeared was a decent victory for the home country. The voices of the 70,000 fans cheering the Scottish side on to two valuable points and an England showdown.

Donachie’s Embarrassing Moment

Continuing with the time-wasting scenario Blyth collected a backpass about twelve yards off his goal line and to the right of the penalty area. He took the ball glanced to his left and saw left-back Willie Donachie jogging back to receive the ball and casually bowled it out to him.

The crowd watched on fully expecting Donachie to either pass the ball back to Blyth or turn and play the ball forward. He was under no pressure whatsoever.

“Oh! An Own goal By Willie Donachie”

Donachie had a quick look upfield before receiving the ball and then turned to face towards his own goal. As the ball arrived he looked to play it back to Blyth. However, the ball bounced up and Donachie ended up hitting the ball on the full. And as a result much harder than he needed or anticipated.

Blyth had no chance of getting back in time. He was left helpless as the ball went past him at pace before nestling in the back of the goal. Hampden Park fell silent.

The surprised and shocked commentator and Welshman Hugh Johns summed up the goal perfectly: “Oh! An own goal by Willie Donachie! That’s the most remarkable goal that’s ever been scored surely here at Hampden and it’s 1-1!”

“Willie Donachie has never scored for Scotland, has now scored for Wales” 
Hugh Johns

The game ended 1-1. Scotland’s chances of winning the Home International Championships had gone. Just three days later a goal by Steve Coppell brought another demoralising defeat. This time at the hands of arch-rivals England.