Tag against the run of play

A great phrase!

"Tag against the run of play" is a common idiomatic expression in sports, particularly in football (soccer). It refers to a situation where a team scores a goal or achieves a significant event (e.g., a penalty kick, a free kick, or a corner kick) despite the opposing team having the majority of possession and control of the game.

In other words, the team that scores "against the run of play" is doing so against the flow of the game, where the opposing team has been dominating and creating more scoring opportunities. This phrase is often used to describe a turning point in the game, where the momentum shifts in favor of the team that scores.

For example:

• "The away team scored against the run of play, capitalizing on a defensive mistake by the home team."
• "The underdog team scored a stunning goal against the run of play, sending the crowd into a frenzy."

This phrase is often used to highlight the unexpected nature of the event, and how it can change the complexion of the game.