off the line

[Kontol]

When ""off" is used alone without a verb, what does it actually mean?

Tottenham 1-0 Brentford
51: OFF THE LINE! Reguilon fizzes a brilliant ball into the area which Kane and Sanchez attack. Brentford clear, but only as far as Davies, who loops a header back towards goal which Fernandez gathers right from under his crossbar.

Live Commentary - Spurs vs Brentford | 02.12.2021

Premier League match Spurs vs Brentford 02.12.2021. Preview and stats followed by live commentary, video highlights and match report.

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[jutfrank]

In this case, off means 'away from', and the line is the goal line.

 

[Kontol]

Thank you. But it's still unclear. Does it mean the ball bounces away from the line? Maybe the commentator omits the word 'bounce'?

 

[jutfrank]

I've just watched this exact passage of play (—I can't find a link, unfortunately.) It goes like this:

A Tottenham cross comes in from the left. There are four Brentford defenders and three Tottenham players plus the keeper in the box. Fernandez, the Brentford keeper, goes to catch the ball but fumbles it. The ball drops to the ground, about a metre from the goal line. There's a bit of a scramble, before one of the Brentford players hooks the ball up into the air, attempting to clear the danger. Davies, on the edge of the box, does a looping header back towards goal, where Fernandez gathers it comfortably.