hit a team on the counter attack

[Kontol]

The verb 'hit' has lots of meanings, could you explain what it actually means im this context?

A huge let off for the Clarets on the half hour mark, as Wolves hit Burnley on the counter attack from a corner, with Adama Traore left one on one with Taylor, however, his fierce right footed shot cannoned off Pope’s cross bar.

PL REPORT: WOLVES 0-0 BURNLEY | BurnleyFC

Goalless draw at Molineux sees the Clarets extend their unbeaten league run to five matches

www.burnleyfootballclub.com

 

[Rover_KE]

' ... hit on the counter attack means turn defence into attack.'

 

[Kontol]

Thank you so much. So the verb "hit" here means to turn, doesn't it? Can I replace "hit" with "turn?"

Wolves turn Burnley on the counter attack.

 

[Rover_KE]

No.

You could replace 'hit' with 'attack', but then you'd have to replace 'counter attack' to 'riposte'.

The original is smoother.

 

[jutfrank]

Football language contains a lot of metaphor. The primary metaphor scheme is that football is a battle. Imagine the two teams are two boxers boxing, or two knights swordfighting.

 

[Kontol]

Thank you. Learning English through football is very interesting. I really enjoy it. By the way, I also hear the commentator say "break on the counter", does the verb "break" has the same meaning as "hit" here?

 

[Tdol]

You can say break, but you wouldn't use break Burnley; you simply break on the counterattack.

 

[jutfrank]

I enjoy answering questions about language used in the world of football. It's an extremely rich and interesting area.

The verb break in this context has a similar but far from identical meaning to hit. They are different metaphors. When a teams 'breaks', it means they are in some sense set free of restrictions. In other words, they turn defence into attack, or advance from their own half, where they have been 'restricted' by the opposing team's pressure, into their opponents' half. You might imagine someone being tied up with chains and then breaking free of the bond.