beat the first man

[Kontol]

Could you explain what "the first man" mean in this football match report?

Liverpool corner on the left after a good run from Jota. Robertson takes it, swinging it out with his left. Casemiro heads it out at the cost of another. That one beats the first man but Militao then heads it away.

 

[emsr2d2]

His header passed the first player defending.

 

[Kontol]

I'm wondering what "man" refers to in football? Does "man" mean player?

67 mins: Manchester City 0 Aston Villa 1
Countinho trips his man on the edge of the Villa box. De Bruyne gets the ball over the wall, but not down again.

 

[5jj]

Yes.

 

[Kontol]

It's still inclear to me. By the way, who is his player?

 

[5jj]

It's still unclear to me.

Man = player
Player - man

Is that clear now?

 

[Rover_KE]

The player who is marking him.

In women's football, they'd say 'player' or 'marker'.

 

[5jj]

Iwho is his player?

The partcular member of the opposing team he is is dealing with at that momernt.

 

[Kontol]

That's clear now. Just "player" is a bit ambiguous to me. I have a feeling that "man" means "marker" here, not "player". But I'm wondering whether you also say something like "trip his player", "beat his player"? I have only heard commentators say "beat his man", "trip his man" and rarely hear "beat his player","trip his player".

 

[Rover_KE]

No. We only use 'man' in the men's game.

In women's football, we say 'She beats her marker/challenger/opponent/defender etc.