Crossword Genius

Leaves goalie sprawling after final's start (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

foliage

'leaves' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'goalie sprawling after final's start' is the wordplay.
'sprawling' is an anagram indicator.
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'start' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letter of 'finals' is 'f'.
'goalie' anagrammed gives 'oliage'.
'oliage' put after 'f' is 'FOLIAGE'.

(Other definitions for foliage that I've seen before include "Leaves of tree or plant" , "Mass of leaves" , "Green leaves" , "Greenery, leaves of trees or plants" , "Plant leaves collectively" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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