Football words and expressions beginning with O

[Alex Case]

As always, any comments very welcome indeed

Obstruction- Deliberately standing somewhere to stop a player from running where they need to go. An offense, likely to lead to a FREE KICK
Odds- How likely you are to win a match, e.g. “The odds are against SPURS winning the next match in their league campaign”. From betting.
Off his line- Used to explain that a goalkeeper is far from his own goal, making it easy for a STRIKER to CHIP the ball over his head. Collocations- Caught +, Standing +
Offtarget- Not towards the goal, so that it wouldn’t go in even if the goalkeeper wasn’t there. Collocations- Shots +, + shot, +0 attempt
Off the ball- While the other player doesn’t have the ball, for example SHIRT TUGGING just to annoy another player or to stop them RUNNING INTO SPACE
Official supporters’ club- A SUPPORTERS’ CLUB organised by the football club
Officials- The REFEREE and LINESMEN
Offside rule- The rule that aims to stop GOAL HANGING by forcing players to receive the ball further towards their own goal than the opposing side’s defenders. Not understanding the offside rule is often stated as proof of women not really appreciating football.
Offside trap- Defenders running forward to force the opposing striker into an OFFSIDE position and so making sure the game is stopped and they get POSSESSION. If this tactic goes wrong it usually leaves the striker only needing to beat the GOALKEEPER to score.
On a yellow card- Having to be careful not to FOUL anyone etc. because you already have a YELLOW CARD (in that match or a previous match) and so will have to miss the rest of that match and/ or the next match if you get another yellow card
On paper- “It’s a good team on paper” means that theoretically it should be a good team (but often that it isn’t actually that good, for example because the players don’t get on with each other)
On target- Likely to lead to a goal if no one gets in the way, i.e. going towards the goal
On the bench- A SUBSTITUTE who does not play from the beginning of the game but might later. Collocations- Starting +, Stuck +. See BENCHWARMER.
On the break- Scoring on the break means scoring while most of the players are in the other half of the pitch, for example because the other team has had most of the POSSESSION and done most of the attacking
One touch football- A style of play in which players very quickly PASS the ball
Open talks- Start negotiating with a player or team about purchasing someone
Opener- see OPENING GOAL
Opening goal- The first goal of the match, making the score 1-0 or 0-1
Opposition (the)-The most common way to talk about the team that you are playing against
Other side (the)- Another way to say the OPPOSITION
Out and out striker- Someone who purely has the role of scoring goals, rather than TRACKING BACK for defence or SETTING UP GOALS for others
Outfield players- Every player but the GOALKEEPER
Outnumbered- There being more players from the other side on the PITCH or in a particular area of the pitch, e.g. near your goal
Out-of-position- Not where you should be on the PITCH
Outside of the foot- The right side of your right foot or the left side of your left foot. Using the outside of your foot is often seen a sign of skill
Over two legs- Two matches, HOME and AWAY
Own goal- The ball accidentally going into your goal off one of your own players, e.g. a failed BACKPASS
Own half- The half of the PITCH nearest to your goal

The index of all the other letters so far, and the other letters as they go up, is here:

http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ge...ngenglish.html

[BobK]

Those Open/Opener entries souldn't be taken as suggesting that Opening can only refer to goals and minutes. 'He ran into heavy traffic* in the area, and couldn't find an opening' - =an opportunity to shoot.

*'Run into heavy traffic' is commonly-used by football commentators to refer to a crowded penalty area.

b

[Alex Case]

Thanks, keep them coming!

[bertietheblue]

overrun as in 'overrun the ball' - kick the ball too far ahead of you and so lose possession