Scores an equaliser in line with last defenders (6)
I believe the answer is:
levels
'scores' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both states of affairs as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'an equaliser in line with last defenders' is the wordplay.
'an equaliser in' becomes 'leve' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'line' becomes 'l' (used when specifying particular lines from a poem).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'last' suggests the final letters.
The last letter of 'defenders' is 's'.
'leve'+'l'+'s'='LEVELS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for levels that I've seen before include "Devices to check if surfaces are flat" , "Tools for establishing the horizontal" , "Tiers" , "Degrees - grades" , "Tools for establishing flat surfaces" .)