Football Glossary: Key Terms Explained
Football has a language of its own. Whether you are new to the game or just want to settle a debate, this glossary explains the terms you will hear most often around matches on Alkora.
Clean sheet
A clean sheet is when a team finishes a match without conceding any goals. Goalkeepers and defenders take great pride in keeping them, as they are a sign of a strong, organised defence.
Hat-trick
A hat-trick is when a single player scores three goals in the same match. Scoring three with the left foot, right foot and head is sometimes called a "perfect hat-trick".
Derby
A derby is a match between two rival clubs, usually from the same city or region. Derbies carry extra emotion and history, and the form book is often said to go out of the window.
Stoppage time
Stoppage time, also called injury or added time, is the extra time the referee adds at the end of each half to make up for stoppages such as injuries, substitutions and goal celebrations.
Brace
A brace simply means two goals scored by the same player in one match — one short of a hat-trick.
Assist
An assist is the final pass or touch that directly sets up a goal for a team-mate. It is the most common way of measuring a player's creative contribution.
Own goal
An own goal is when a player accidentally puts the ball into their own net, with the goal counting for the opposing team.
Extra time and penalties
When a knockout match is level after ninety minutes, two fifteen-minute periods of extra time are played. If the score is still tied, the match is decided by a penalty shootout.