SEOUL, June 6: The second goal scored by the United States in their surprise 3-2 win over Portugal on Wednesday has been declared an own goal by Portuguese defender Jorge Costa, creating a piece of World Cup finals history.

The match is now the only one in the tournament’s 72-year history to witness two own goals.

A speculative cross from the right from midfielder Landon Donovan took an unfortunate deflection off Costa on its way into the net in the 29th minute of the group D game.

In the second half of the match US defender Jeff Agoos deflected the ball into the back of his own net as he tried to clear a cross in the 71st minute.

FIFA usually regards deflections in a positive light and awards the goal to the player who took the shot.

But FIFA communications director Keith Cooper told a news conference on Thursday: “Donovan’s effort was clearly not a shot. The ball was going across the field. It was an attempted cross and not a goal attempt. You could see from his reaction that he was a bit embarrassed.”

Earlier in the tournament, FIFA decided to award South Africa’s first goal in a 2-2 draw with Paraguay in group B to Tebeho Mokoena after it was originally given as an own goal.

Mokoena’s shot took a deflection off Estanislao Struway and was first given as an own goal by the Paraguay midfielder.

Of the 1,803 goals scored in 17 World Cup tournaments, only 24 have been own goals, just over one percent.—Reuters