Table of Contents
- So, what is a consolation goal in soccer?
- Why are they called consolation goals in soccer?
- Do consolation goals count the same as other goals?
- What about away consolation goals?
- Recap: Consolation goals in soccer
If you’ve ever watched a soccer match, you might have come across a player scoring what is known in the game as “a consolation goal.”
But what on earth does it mean to score a consolation goal in soccer? Is it worth the same as any other goal? And why has it got this name? Let’s find out!
So, what is a consolation goal in soccer?
A consolation goal in soccer is one that is scored by the losing team in response to several goals scored by the opposition. In other words, it doesn’t make any difference to the overall outcome of the match and is subsequently deemed meaningless.
For instance, if you are losing a soccer match 5-0 and your team scores a goal in the 90th minute to make the game 5-1, this would be considered a consolation goal in soccer.
Read on to find out where the term comes from and what it means to score a consolation goal on the soccer field.
Why are they called consolation goals in soccer?
Consolation goals are those that have no direct bearing on the outcome of the match. In most instances, a team has been outplayed for the majority of the game and has had little opportunity to score a goal, due to the fact that their opponents have been better.
So, for instance, if a team is 3-0, 4-0, or 5-0 up and concedes a goal in the second half, it’s common for the commentator to refer to it as a consolation.
It’s a way of saying – this team has been poor, but at least they’ve scored a goal – that’s a consolation for the coaches and the supporters!
But in reality, a consolation goal is not consoling and doesn’t really do anything to change what has been an extremely disappointing performance.
It’s also common for consolation goals to be scored late in the game – typically after 85 minutes or so.
After all, if you’re 3-0 down after 30 minutes and you get a goal back, there’s a very real chance that you could get back into the game.
However, if you’re 3-0 with just five minutes left to play, it’s unlikely that the goal will be anything more than a consolation, and you will probably end up losing the game.
Do consolation goals count the same as other goals?
Yes, consolation goals count just like all other goals! A goal is a goal in soccer, whether it’s scored in the first or last minute, and it always counts as one.
Something worth noting about consolation goals is that the team that concedes the goal is often really frustrated, as it costs them the clean sheet. The defenders will have worked hard all game to keep the ball out of their net, only to concede a last-minute consolation goal – no wonder they’re frustrated!
Many professional players play for clean sheet bonuses, which adds to the frustration of conceding a consolation goal in the last minute.
But yes, consolation goals are just goals at the end of the day, and if one flies into the net in the dying minutes of the game, it is counted just like any other goal scored during a soccer match.
What about away consolation goals?
In some competitions, the away goal rule plays a big part in the outcome of a match. Basically, in some knockout tournaments, away goals are loaded, meaning that they actually count for more than goals scored at home in the tie.
For example, if Real Madrid beat Bayern Munich 2-1 at home, only to lose to the Germans away from home 1-0, Bayern would go through to the next round as they managed to score an away goal.
So, of course, if Barcelona won 4-1 at home to Juventus in the first round of the tie, only to be losing 4-1 in the away tie, a late goal scored by Barca in the second leg would not be a consolation goal – it would actually send them through on away goals so it would be extremely valuable to the team!
Recap: Consolation goals in soccer
The term “consolation goal” is often used by soccer commentators to describe a goal that goes into the back of the net towards the end of the game when it doesn’t have a bearing on the outcome of the fixture.
Although it’s called a consolation goal, the reality is that it is not remotely consoling for the team that has just been heavily beaten, and most players, coaches, and fans would still be extremely frustrated by their team’s lackluster performance!