General
consolation goal
What does consolation goal mean?
A goal scored by the losing team when the game is effectively already decided.
"They grabbed a consolation goal in stoppage time to make it 4-1."
Origin
Descriptive; the goal is only a 'consolation' in defeat.
Frequently asked questions
What is a consolation goal?
A consolation goal is one scored by the losing team when the match is already effectively decided, so it improves the scoreline but doesn't affect the result.
Why is it called a consolation goal?
Because the goal offers only small comfort — a 'consolation' — to a team that is already beaten, rather than genuinely changing the outcome.
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