scoring a goal

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   The act of putting the ball or puck into the other team's goal to win a point.

   Grammar: Acts as a noun; the verb inside it is 'score', which takes an object: score a goal.

   Patterns

   • score a goal
   • score a goal for someone
   • score a goal against someone
   • scoring a goal in a game

   Scoring a goal in the last minute gave the team the win.

   She dreamed of scoring a goal in front of her family.

   He celebrated after scoring a goal from outside the penalty area.

2. 2phrasefixed phrasefigurative

   Achieving an important success that people notice and praise.

   Grammar: Used figuratively, often in business or politics, and usually followed by 'for' or 'with'.

   Patterns

   • scoring a goal for someone
   • scoring a goal with something

   The new deal was seen as scoring a goal for the whole department.

   Signing that singer was scoring a goal for the small record label.

Common combinations

score a goal

The striker scored a goal in the first half.

score the winning goal

He scored the winning goal with seconds left.

score an own goal

The defender scored an own goal by mistake.

score a goal from a corner

They scored a goal from a corner kick.

open the scoring

She opened the scoring after only five minutes.

Synonyms and how they differ

getting a goal

More informal and focuses on the result rather than the action; 'scoring a goal' is the standard sports term.

finding the net

An informal sports expression that means the same thing but sounds more like commentary.

Opposites

Word family

score verb

To put the ball in the goal or get a point in a game.

score noun

The number of points each team has.

scorer noun

The player who scores.

goalscorer noun

A player who scores goals, especially often.

Commonly confused: scoring a goal or making a goal?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “scoring a goal”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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