New Zealand footballer Meikayla Moore scores perfect hat-trick of own goals in 36 minutes | OneFootball

New Zealand footballer Meikayla Moore endured a torrid first-half against the United States in the SheBelieves Cup, scoring three own goals in 36 minutes.

Moore made her fiftieth appearance for New Zealand against the US, but the match is unlikely to hold a special place in her heart.

The 25-year-old, who plays for Liverpool in the Women’s Championship, turned the ball into the back of her own net three times in the first half.

The first own goal happened in the fifth minute. American forward Sophia Smith whipped a cross into New Zealand’s penalty box – Moore stuck out a leg in an attempt to clear the ball, but inadvertently deflected it into the back of the goal.

The second own goal happened just one minute later – Moore again struggled to deal with an incoming cross, heading the ball past the arms of her own goalkeeper.

Moore’s worst nightmare was confirmed in the 36th minute when she tapped in yet another cross, this time from American forward Margaret Purce.

It was soon pointed out that Moore has scored a perfect hat-trick of own goals, scoring with her left foot, right foot and head.

Check out all three own goals here…

Moore was unable to make amends for a horrendous first 45 minutes as she was substituted at half-time.

The defender has been a regular starter for New Zealand since she made her debut in September 2013, aged just 17-years-old.

She has played for FC Köln and MSV Duisburg in Germany, before signing for Liverpool in 2020. Her move to England came just 15 months after snapping her achilles while on international duty.

New Zealand have struggled so far at the SheBelieves Cup, an invitational tournament hosted in the US.

The Football Ferns started the tournament with a 1-0 defeat to Iceland, before ultimately losing 5-0 to the US, the reigning world champions.