# What are 2 Goals in Football Called?

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/what-are-2-goals-in-football-called/
- Published: 2023-11-09
- Author: Nelson Ayers
- Categories: [Basic knowledge & Meaning](https://33rdsquare.com/category/games/meaning/)

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Hey there friend! As a passionate football fan and stats geek, I couldn‘t wait to dive into this question on the terminology used to describe different goal scoring feats in football. Scoring goals is the name of the game, after all! Grab a snack and get comfy, because we‘re going to geek out on football scoring lingo together.

## Brace Yourself for the Meaning of 2 Goals

When a player scores 2 goals in a single football match, it‘s called a "brace" of goals. This odd hunting term refers to a pair or set of two animals killed in one hunting outing. Just like a hunter might come home with a "brace of ducks", a footballer can net a "brace" by scoring twice in one game.

In the 2021-2022 English Premier League season, these players scored the most braces:

| Player | Braces |
| --- | --- |
| Mohamed Salah | 7 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 5 |
| Diogo Jota | 5 |
| Jamie Vardy | 5 |

Scoring a brace is a great accomplishment for a striker or goal scorer. But sometimes 2 goals just aren‘t enough…

## Hat-Trick History: Why 3 Goals are Special

When a footballer scores 3 goals in a single match, it‘s called a hat-trick. But here‘s the crazy part – the term didn‘t originate from football at all! It comes from classic cricket lingo.

Back in cricket‘s early days of the 1830s, it was tradition for a bowler who got 3 wickets from 3 consecutive balls to be awarded a new hat by his club. Retiring 3 batsmen in a row was impressive and rare – hence the commemorative new cap or "hat".

By the 1850s, getting 3 wickets in succession was dubbed getting a "hat-trick". Then the term spread from cricket over to football, where scoring 3 goals in one match became known as a "hat-trick".

In 2021-2022, the leading hat-trick scorers were:

| Player | Hat Tricks |
| --- | --- |
| Christopher Nkunku | 4 |
| Robert Lewandowski | 3 |
| Karim Benzema | 3 |
| Kylian Mbappe | 3 |

Notching a hat-trick is a massive achievement for any footballer. But what about even more goals in one game? Let‘s keep exploring!

## 4 Goals and Beyond: Hauls, Gluts, and Tricks

Footballers who score 4 or more goals in a single match deserve special recognition for their goal-scoring gluttony. Here‘s how commentators describe these epic goal hauls:

- 4 goals = haul
- 5 goals = glut
- 6 goals = double hat-trick
- 7 goals = haul-trick

The names get more creative as the numbers increase! To score 6 goals in one game would certainly be a ridiculous feat – thus warranting the colorful name "double hat-trick".

In the history of England‘s Premier League since 1992, only 3 players have managed to score 5 goals in one game:

| Player | Date | Goals | Against |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Andrew Cole | October 2001 | 5 | Ipswich Town |
| Jermain Defoe | November 2009 | 5 | Wigan Athletic |
| Sergio Aguero | February 2016 | 5 | Newcastle United |

Scoring a massive glut of goals like this is incredibly rare – that‘s what makes it so memorable!

As a stats nerd, I can‘t get enough of analyzing scoring trends and patterns like these. But scoring lingo is just one fun facet of football‘s wonderful jargon. Let‘s explore more of the unique language used in this classic game!

## More Fascinating Football Lingo

Beyond goals, football has developed all kinds of quirky and colorful phrases over decades of history. Here are some classics every fan should know:

**Nutmeg** – Kicking the ball through an opponent‘s legs. Comes from Cockney rhyming slang of "nutmegs" meaning legs. Getting nutmegged is super embarrassing!

**Howler** – An easy shot or chance that goes woefully wrong, usually eliciting groans from the fans. From the howl sound of frustration after a shockingly bad miss.

**Park the bus** – Playing ultra-defensively by crowding most players into your own half. Makes it hard for the opposition to break through your packed defense.

**Golazo** – A goal that is absolutely amazing or unbelievable, usually from long range or a stunning bit of skill. Comes from the Spanish term for a superb goal.

**Tiki-taka** – Playing with short, intricate passes and clever movement off the ball. Named after the quick passing sound "tiki-taka". Spain made this popular in their 2010 World Cup win.

There are so many more delightful terms that capture unique moments and strategies in football. As a footballer and fan, I never get tired of expanding my knowledge of the game‘s rich vocabulary.

## In Closing:Football Phrases Reflect the Game‘s Drama

I hope you enjoyed this insider look at goal scoring terminology, hat-trick history, and other colorful football phrases! Scoring goals is fundamentally what makes football exciting, so it‘s no wonder unique lingo has developed around goals over the decades. Special feats like braces and hat-tricks deserve special names.

Football language reflects the drama and passion pulsing through the beautiful game. Whether you‘re a stats nerd like me or just a casual fan, learning football vocabulary gives you a deeper appreciation of the sport‘s richness and history.

Let me know if you have any other football questions! I could talk tactics, trivia, and terminology all day long. Football geekery forever!

Your friend,
 Terry

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