VIDEO: Juan Mata scores a goal for Spain against Macedonia ... by accident

Spanish midfielder Juan Mata scored the opening goal for La Furia Roja in the eighth minute of play as his side took on Macedonia in European Championship qualifying action.

He smiled ear-to-ear and celebrated with his teammates, just as he would with any other goal. But hidden in that smile was a cheeky look, his eyes revealing what his words never would: that goal was a complete accident.

See, Mata wasn't actually aiming for the goal when he crossed the ball into the box. In fact, Mata's goal came as the result of a few blunders and a lot of chance. The ball curled away from his teammates, rushed in the box, dipped down, and smacked the bar, before bouncing off the Macedonian goalkeeper's head and in to the back of the net.

Mata and his teammates know that this goal was more fortuitous than anything else. But, the Manchester United man will claim it like any other, of course.