goal line

the line that bounds a goal, especially the front line.

Origin of goal line

First recorded in 1865–70

Back of Hillton, less than eight yards away, lay the goal-line.

The Half-Back |Ralph Henry Barbour
The Hillton full stood just inside the goal-line and stretched his hands out.

Behind the Line |Ralph Henry Barbour
A “corner” occurs when the ball goes behind the goal-line, but not into goal.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 5 |Various
Behind the goal-line, Charlie De Soto came up, as he stood measuring his distance for a kick.

Stover at Yale |Owen Johnson

The ball in this way is kept moving until it crosses the touch-line, or goal-line, or is tackled.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5 |Various

goal line

sport the line marking each end of the pitch, on which the goals stand