Okuzeka
Football (Soccer) vocabulary · Match Commentary Phrases

Against the run of play

Meaning in football (soccer), with examples

phraseAdvanced term

In football (soccer), against the run of play means: Describes a goal or result that comes when the other team has been playing better and looked more likely to score.

In Turkish: oyunun akışına aykırı, oyunun gidişatına ters

How it is used

A favourite of commentators and reporters: "They went ahead against the run of play." It shows that the score does not reflect the pattern of the game. An undeserved away win is sometimes called a smash and grab.

Example sentences

  1. Kestrel Athletic took the lead against the run of play just before half-time.

  2. Their goal came completely against the run of play.

Common collocations

  • score against the run of play
  • completely against the run of play
  • goal against the run of play
  • equaliserA goal that makes the score level, for example the goal that changes 1-0 to 1-1.
  • commentatorA person who describes a match live on TV, radio or online, explaining the action as it happens.
  • counter-attackA fast attack launched straight after winning the ball back, aiming to score before the opponents can reorganise their defence.
  • goalA point scored when the whole ball crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar; also the frame with a net that teams try to put the ball into.

More terms: Match Commentary Phrases

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: