What is the winning goal?

[wwfc_4ever]

OK, here's one for you:

What exactly is the winning goal in a football match?:confused:

Is it the goal that put the winning team ahead,
or is it the last goal scored by a winning team.

For example, in the 1966 world cup final, Geoff Hurst's famously debated goal (did it or didn't it cross the line?) put England 3-2 up against West Germany. He also, equally famously, scored the last goal in the final moments of the match which saw England go on to win 4-2.

Which one was the winning goal for England?

[impalemeplz]

the go-ahead goal is the MWG, match winning goal.

[NHRef]

It's the goal that "creates" the win. In other words, its the goal that gives the winners one more than the loosers. Doesn't necessarily make it the go ahead etc. So...

If you win 2-1 its the second goal, if you win 5-0, its the first goal. Even if at the time it meant little, so if you go up 4-0, then end up winning 4-3, it would be the 4th goal.

At least that's how I understand it.

[magicgam1]

It's the goal that "creates" the win. In other words, its the goal that gives the winners one more than the loosers. Doesn't necessarily make it the go ahead etc. So...

If you win 2-1 its the second goal, if you win 5-0, its the first goal. Even if at the time it meant little, so if you go up 4-0, then end up winning 4-3, it would be the 4th goal.

At least that's how I understand it.

I also understand it that way.

[Mr. Bee]

It's the goal that "creates" the win. In other words, its the goal that gives the winners one more than the loosers. Doesn't necessarily make it the go ahead etc. So...

If you win 2-1 its the second goal, if you win 5-0, its the first goal. Even if at the time it meant little, so if you go up 4-0, then end up winning 4-3, it would be the 4th goal.

At least that's how I understand it.

Yeah, that's how it goes.

Its why Brian McBride has two game winning goals in World Cup finals competition, even though one of them was a goal that put them up 3-0 over Portugal and the other was a goal that put them up 1-0 over Mexico, even though those werent the final scores of either match.

[wwfc_4ever]

It's the goal that "creates" the win. In other words, its the goal that gives the winners one more than the loosers. Doesn't necessarily make it the go ahead etc. So...

If you win 2-1 its the second goal, if you win 5-0, its the first goal. Even if at the time it meant little, so if you go up 4-0, then end up winning 4-3, it would be the 4th goal.

At least that's how I understand it.

OK, so in the 1966 world cup final you would label the goal that made it 3-2 to England the 'winning goal'?

Yeah, that's what I would have said. My dad and I have been having a debate over it. It's nice to see that so many seem to have my opinion! :D