Sports Missing Stuff

Question

Michael Swan in his book http://ielts-house.net/Ebook/Vocabulary/Practical English usage.pdf (page 1) writes:

Commentaries on fast-moving events like football matches also have their own grammar. Less important verbs are often left out.

Goal kick ... And the score still Spurs 3, Arsenal 1 ... that's Pearce ... Pearce
to Coates ... good ball ... Sawyer running wide ... Billings takes it, through
to Matthews, Matthews with a cross, oh, and Billings in beautifully, a good
chance there - and it's a goal!

I am trying to decipher it and write all of the above in the traditional and full grammar with no words left out

It's a goal kick ... And the score has still been so that the Spurs has 3 goals, the Arsenal has 1 goal ... that's Pearce ... Pearce is heading
to Coates ... this is a good ball ... Sawyer is running widely ... Billings is taking it, through
to Matthews, Matthews with a cross, oh, and Billings in beautifully, it's a good
chance there - and it's a goal!

The red words are the words I don't understand at all. They look like some random set of words... Is it correct what I added and how do I understand and write the red part?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

TheeGoal kick

The referee has judged that the ball was touched last by the attacking side before it went out of play over the end line and has therefore declared that the goalkeeper will put the ball back in play. "Goal kick" is the normal way of saying that.

TheeAnd the score still Spurs 3, Arsenal 1

"And the score is still Spurs 3, Arsenal 1." That (with "is") is how we normally say a score. There is no other abridgement.

Thee that's Pearce

"Pearce has possession of the ball."

TheePearce to Coates

"Pearce passes the ball to Coates."

Theegood ball

Someone has passed the ball well. "That is a good ball."

TheeSawyer running wide

Sawyer is running down the pitch toward the other team's end over near the sideline. "Sawyer is running wide."

Thee Billings takes it, through to Matthews,

Billings has received a pass and has himself passed the ball between opposing players to Matthews. "Billings takes it and kicks it through the crowd to Matthews."

TheeMatthews with a cross

Matthews, in possession off to one side of the goal, has kicked the ball transversly across the pitch such that it passes in front of the goal mouth not far from it. "With a cross" is the usual way of saying that, or "Matthews crosses the ball."

TheeBillings in beautifully

Billings does an admirable job of getting himself under the cross ball. "Matthews is in beautifully." "In" means that he has entered the penalty area, I think.

Theea good chance there

Soccer commentators speak of chances, a side's moving the ball into a position they can score from.

Sports Missing Stuff

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions