In football, many terms and statistics are used to describe what happens during a match. Understanding these can sometimes be confusing, especially for beginners. One common question people often ask is: does a goal count as a shot on target?
A shot on target is any attempt to score that either goes into the net or forces the goalkeeper to make a save. But does this include goals?
This blog post will clarify this and help you better understand football statistics. Whether you're a new fan or just want to learn more, we will discuss this topic in a way that will hopefully be easy to grasp.
Does Scoring a Goal Count As a Shot On Target?
Yes, scoring a goal does count as a shot on target.
Whenever a player scores a goal, it is considered a successful shot on target. This is because the ball has clearly ended up in the back of the net, verifying that the attempt was both accurate and effective.
For example, if a player takes a shot and it beats the goalkeeper to go into the goal, statistics will record this event as both a goal and a shot on target.
Understanding this is helpful if you look at match statistics or place bets on there being a certain number of shots on target. Knowing that each goal contributes to the total number of shots on target can give you a clearer picture of how well a team is performing offensively.
If a Shot Hits The Post Is It On Target?
No, if a shot hits the post, it is not considered on target.
When a player takes a shot and it strikes the goalpost, it technically misses the goal. This means it does not count as a shot on target in the statistics.
For a shot to be on target, it must either go into the net for a goal or force the goalkeeper to make a save. Shots hitting the post do neither of these.
Understanding this helps you recognise the difference between near misses and actual scoring opportunities. It's a helpful detail to know if you are trying to keep track of shots on target, as it shows how close players came to scoring without actually creating a significant threat.
Does an Own Goal Count As a Shot On Target?
No, an own goal does not count as a shot on target for the team who benefits from it.
When a player accidentally scores a goal in their own net, it is recorded as an own goal. However, it does not count as a shot on target for the opposing team. This kind of mishap is unfortunate but is treated differently in the statistics.
For the team's own records, the own goal is noted, but it won’t appear in their total shots on target.
This means that an own goal changes the scoreline but does not impact the count of shots on target taken by either team because the team that took the shot isn’t aiming for that goal, so it isn’t on target, and the other team didn’t take the shot. Understanding this helps distinguish between calculated shots by players that are saved or scored (shot on target) and unfortunate mistakes during the game.