Capitalise on an error

When a team makes a mistake in a game the opponents can often benefit or capitalise on this mistake (or error). For example, if a team loses the ball near their own penalty area then the opposing team might be able to score a goal – they would have capitalised on the team’s error to score a goal. We can also use the phrase ‘to capitalise on‘ when describing a team benefiting from another team’s error or slip up. So, for example, if the teams in second and third place in the league fail to win and the leaders do then we say they have capitalised on their opponents’ slip up. To capitalise on an error.

• Example: Juventus capitalised on an error in the Bayern defence to open the scoring.
• Example: The leaders capitalised on the chasing pack who all drew by winning away at their rivals.