Sharp Finishing at Goal | Beat the Defender and Shoot

Overview

• Teams that want sharper shooting around the penalty area
• Players who need to read the moment and get a shot off fast in 1v1s
• Coaches who want to work on movement in front of goal in a game-like setting
• Players who want to stay calm under pressure and open up a shooting angle

Objectives

• Move quick in tight spaces to carve out a shooting chance
• Keep an eye on the defender and put the shot on target
• Smooth out the whole sequence from receiving the cross to the finish
• Sharpen quick decisions and finishing at the same time

Setup

Set up a mannequin (standing in for a defender) near the penalty spot, and your attackers work to get around it quick and finish. Here’s how it runs.

1) Place the mannequin around the penalty spot to squeeze the space tight

2) Attackers get ready to receive the ball from either side

3) As the cross comes in from the flank, the attacker times their move and slips past the mannequin at pace

4) From close range, just in front of the goal line, they get the shot off fast

5) Rotate several players through in turn and keep the reps flowing with a good rhythm

6) In Progression One, add a live defender to bring real pressure into it