To my knowledge, there's been one hat-trick of own goals in football history (although even that's disputed). On Sunday, USWNT fans were witness to a second.
New Zealand's Meikayla Moore, who plays her club ball for Liverpool and was receiving her 50th cap on Sunday, put the ball into her own net three times in 36 minutes during the Football Ferns' SheBelieves Cup match against the USWNT.
In the fifth minute, Andi Sullivan quickly took a free kick and the ball was worked wide to Sophia Smith. She aimed a cross at Catarina Macario, but Moore got there first and wildly sliced an effort into her own net.
.@sophsssmith making things happen early for the opener!!! #SheBelievesCup x @Visa pic.twitter.com/CpAvjdhqU1
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) February 20, 2022
Just 81 seconds later, Moore tracked the run of Midge Purce as Sofia Huerta tried to pick her out with a cross. Although Purce got a slight touch to it, the majority of the work was done by Moore's face.
.@schuerta + @100Purcent wreak havoc to double the lead! #SheBelievesCup x @Visa pic.twitter.com/pR3mLaLzg4
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) February 20, 2022
The hat-trick was complete in the 36th minute with an attempted left-footed clearance that Moore clearly didn't want to make at this point — she just wanted the ground to swallow her up.
name's Purce, because @100Purcent is always in her bag pic.twitter.com/GAss2w9txG
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) February 20, 2022
It was heartbreaking to see Moore get replaced in the 40th minute, but based on the third own goal, it was the right move from New Zealand manager Jitka Klimková. Julie Foudy said she didn't like it and wanted to see Moore given time to make amends, but that was never happening with the U.S. leading 3-0 at half.
Remember that New Zealand has automatically qualified for the 2023 World Cup as co-host, and Moore certainly wants to be there as one of the team's defenders. Hopefully she can put this behind her as quick as possible.
