(in soccer, rugby, hockey, and some other games) a pair of posts linked by a crossbar and typically with a net between, forming a space into or over which the ball has to be sent in order to score

an instance of sending the ball into or over the goal, especially as a unit of scoring in a game

the decisive opening goal

we won by three goals to two

the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result

he achieved his goal of becoming King of England