New Zealand Womens Defender Scores Incredible First Half Hat-Trick Of Own Goals Before Being Subbed

Normally, a player scoring a hat-trick is a cause for celebration - but that's not the case when all three goals ended up in your own net.

During a SheBelieves Cup game between the US and New Zealand, Meikayla Moore did just that, scoring a first-half hat-trick of own goals, before being brutally subbed off after only 40 minutes.

It was a desperately unfortunate situation for Moore, who plays her club football in the WSL with Liverpool.

New Zealand are still yet to win in the competition, with The Football Ferns having lost their first game 1-0 against Iceland.

In a cruel bit of irony, Moore also holds the distinction of scoring a so-called 'perfect hat-trick' - as her own goals were completed with her left foot, right foot and her head.

While some adopted mocking tones in regard to Moore's performers, plenty of other social media users leapt to the defence of the 25-year-old from Christchurch.

Gotham FC head coach Scott Parkinson backed Moore to come back stronger, citing the extreme difficulty of facing the US team, which boasts one of the best attacks in the women's game.

"Meikayla Moore will bounce back. Playing against the best team on the planet, who are delivering UNREAL balls into the box. For all the keyboard warriors giving her a bit of shit, get back in your mums basement," he wrote on Twitter.

Plenty of Liverpool fans also showed their support for the club's Centre-back, who first signed for The Reds in 2020.

She has since gone on to make 15 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions. A defender of proven quality, Moore will most certainly bounce back stronger from this disappointment.

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Topics: New Zealand, Liverpool, SheBelieves Cup, WSL, Womens Football, USA