1v1 Finishing | Beating a Mannequin Defender

Overview

• Receiving outside the box and taking on a mannequin (defender)
• Reading it quick, carrying the ball to the open side, and finishing
• Sharpening accurate finishing under pressure in 1v1 situations

Objectives

• Faster split-second reads right in front of the box
• A clean, positive first touch under pressure
• Using the body to beat the defender, then finishing with real accuracy
• Building the composure to handle the 1v1s players face all the time in games

Setup

This drill sets a mannequin outside the box with the coach standing alongside it. The forward receives a pass and plays out a 1v1 all the way to the finish.

1）Cut the field down to a third and place the mannequin near the box

2）The forward receives a central pass from the coach

3）Before the ball arrives, have them scan the coach’s position to spot the space

4）On receiving, carry the ball into the open space on the far side with a quick touch

5）Beat the mannequin and get the shot off with as little delay as possible

6）Have the coach move around to simulate the space shifting, which forces sharper decisions