Well, now, if you’ve ever watched a soccer match, you know how things can get a bit tricky when it comes to those golden goals. I don’t mean the shiny ones they hang in the trophy case, no, I’m talking about the ones that end the match right then and there, like when you’re almost holding your breath waiting for someone to make that game-changing strike. Now, it’s been said that golden goals have a special place in the world of football, and I reckon some folks don’t quite get what it means when someone talks about them, especially if they throw the term ‘for short’ in there. Well, let me tell you a little story about what that means. Sit back, it ain’t too complicated.
When you hear someone mention “when golden goals are scored for short,” they’re usually referring to a term that gets used in crossword puzzles, like the New York Times one, where they like to make things tricky for folks like me. Now, the answer to this particular crossword clue, when it talks about golden goals being scored, is ‘INOT’ – that’s I-N-O-T. Simple enough, right? Don’t go thinking it’s some kind of secret code or a tricky little riddle. It just stands for the first goal scored during extra time in a match, and that goal ends the game. Now, why they call it ‘golden,’ I don’t rightly know, but that’s the way it goes. It’s like when you drop a penny in the dirt and it shines just right—kind of like that, I suppose.
Now, golden goals don’t happen all the time, but when they do, boy, it can change the whole game. Imagine you’ve been watching a match for what feels like forever, and then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, someone kicks a ball and bam! It’s over. That’s a golden goal. It’s the kind of moment where you either jump up or you sit back in your chair thinking, “Well, that was quick!” The term ‘for short’ in the crossword just means they’re using a short version of it. Ain’t no big mystery here, folks.

But, if you’re like me, you’ve probably wondered where these crossword clues even come from. I’ve asked the same question myself, especially since they seem to get trickier every year. And let me tell you, some of these crossword answers can make you scratch your head real good. Why, just the other day, I was looking at one that had me stumped for a whole afternoon, and I swear I almost gave up. But when you start to put two and two together, like with the golden goal thing, you start seeing patterns. So, this INOT thing, when it’s ‘for short,’ makes sense. You just have to think of it in terms of soccer, extra time, and a game-winning kick.
It’s kind of like when we used to play in the yard with the kids. We’d kick that ball back and forth until one of us just made that big ol’ shot, and that was it. We’d call it a “game-ender” back then, but today, they’ve got fancy names for it like golden goals. Don’t get me wrong, I like the sound of it, but I always think back to simpler days, when it was just a good ol’ game of soccer and not so much fussin’ over the words. But then again, that’s how things change, ain’t it?
Now, don’t be too surprised if you run into this INOT clue again in your crossword puzzles. It’s been popping up more than once, especially in the New York Times puzzles. So, when you see “When golden goals are scored for short,” just remember to think about that extra-time goal that wraps things up. It ain’t no big deal, but it’s a fun little thing to know, especially when you want to impress someone with your crossword skills.
And that’s all there is to it. Golden goals, INOT, and how crossword puzzles have a way of making even simple things seem a little more mysterious. It’s just one of those things, folks. Just keep playing along, and you’ll get the hang of it. Ain’t no need to overthink it, just enjoy the game and the puzzles that come with it.
Tags:[golden goals, crossword clue, soccer, extra time, INOT, New York Times, crossword puzzles, game-winning goal]