spread the play

[Kontol]

What does "spread the play" mean in football?

Man Utd 2-2 Arsenal
62: Maguire spreads the play to Rashford, who crosses first time. However, there's no-one inside the penalty area in a red shirt as Gabriel clears for the visitors.

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[Skrej]

Maguire passes the ball to Rashford. Rashford is now directly involved in the play, where he wasn't previously.

 

[Kontol]

So, the verb "spread" here means to pass, does "the play" really mean the ball in this context?

 

[jutfrank]

In this context, spread play means something like 'move (the ball) across the pitch into a wide position'. The verb spread is a very commonly used verb in football. Think about how you would spread anything else across a wide surface.