The last contact before the net matters
Law 15 does not permit a goal directly from a throw-in. An untouched throw entering the opponents’ goal produces a goal kick; one entering the thrower’s own goal produces a corner. This makes the touch history more important than the throw’s distance.
Imagine a long throw looping over everyone and entering the far corner. The crowd’s reaction and the ball in the net look like a goal. Compare a second version where another player glances the ball on its way through. The direct-throw restriction no longer describes that second sequence in the same way.
Do not let the wide view invent a touch
In a crowded penalty area, players may jump without making contact. A nearby head is not proof of a header. Look for a change in the ball’s rotation or flight alongside a clear contact angle, and leave the conclusion open if the replay does not resolve it.
The goalkeeper’s involvement can be particularly easy to miss behind raised arms. A touch by a player from either team matters to the untouched premise. The example does not decide whether a later foul or another infringement occurred; it isolates the reason a ball can enter the net from a long throw while the score remains unchanged. The restart is a useful clue, but the contact sequence supplies the explanation.
Questions answered
Does a long throw become a shot because it reaches the net?
No; the direct-from-throw restriction still applies.
Must the intervening touch come from an attacker?
No; contact by another player is relevant regardless of team.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the subjects discussed. Service terms and device software can change.