The 8 Ways of Scoring a Goal

When it comes to scoring a goal, there are countless ways a team can create a dangerous opportunity. However, did you know that every opportunity ever created falls into one of eight different categories? In this article, we will be exploring the eight official ways of getting past the opposition’s backline.

These categories all refer to different ways a team can bypass the opposition’s defense and create an opportunity by attacking the space behind the back line. Any attacking move will eventually reach this point, and it’s here where these categories can help us understand what the main playstyle of a manager could be. Without further ado, let’s dive right into the first way of creating an opportunity.

One of my favorite YouTube channels is Football Meta. This is based on one of their videos.

Key Takeaways

• There are eight official ways of getting past the opposition’s backline.
• These categories can help us understand the main playstyle of a manager.
• The eight ways include the shot, dribble, one-two or triangle, through ball, direct attack, passante, overlap, and cross.

Shot

The shot is the most direct way of creating a scoring opportunity, bypassing the opposition’s defense and potentially leading to a goal. It only requires one player, and his position is largely irrelevant as a shot can be taken from anywhere on the pitch. However, approximately 15 percent of goals are scored from outside the box, so it’s an option to consider even if there’s little space behind the backline or if the player on the ball has no support around him.

Defenders must keep in mind that a shot can be a dangerous tool in the hands of a skilled attacker, and they should be prepared to react quickly to prevent the ball from reaching the back of the net. While a shot can be executed individually, it’s important to note that the remaining seven categories all require at least one or two extra teammates to be possible.

Dribble

Dribbling is one of the eight official ways of getting past the opposition’s backline. It is often ignored by defenders, but it is an excellent way of bypassing the entire defense. A successful dribble can move the ball into space that defenders have vacated, making it the most dangerous tool for an attacker in a 1v1 situation.

Unlike a shot, a dribble requires the player to move the ball forward while maintaining control, making it a more challenging technique to execute. However, having teammates positioned correctly to distract defenders or create space enhances this move even more.

Dribbling is one of the two categories that can be done individually without the need for teammates. The other category is the shot. However, the remaining categories all require at least one or two extra teammates to be possible.

One Two or Triangle

The third category of the eight official ways of getting past the opposition’s backline is the one-two or triangle. This technique is widely used by all managers as it is a simple yet effective way of moving the ball forward. There are three types of one-twos that a team can use: an external one-two, an internal one-two, and a vertical one-two.

An external one-two involves the ball moving inside the pitch and then back outside, creating space for the winger. An internal one-two usually looks to free up the half space, while a vertical one-two is mostly used in the center to create a direct scoring opportunity. This technique is difficult to stop as defenders will instinctively move up when the striker lays the ball off, allowing the striker to open up his body and receive with space ahead of him.

The one-two or triangle is a move that can be done with just two players, making it one of the few techniques that can be done individually without the need for any teammates.

Through Ball

A through ball is a pass that is played between two defenders with the intention of finding a teammate making a run behind the opposition’s defense. It requires precise timing and accuracy to execute, but a successful through ball can lead to a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

To be effective, the striker making the run must time their movement correctly to stay onside and be in a position to receive the ball. The passer must also be aware of the defender’s positioning and anticipate their movement to play the ball into space.

The through ball is a popular tactic among playmakers and is often used to exploit gaps in the opposition’s defense. It requires good vision, technique, and communication between teammates.

When executed correctly, a through ball can be a devastating weapon in a team’s attacking arsenal and can lead to some of the most memorable goals in football.

Direct Attack

The Direct Attack is similar to a through ball, but the movement and positioning of the striker is slightly different. This type of attack is more common with higher defensive lines, where the ball gets played from deeper on the pitch and there’s more space for the striker to attack. It can be used to quickly bypass big areas of the pitch and directly attack the space behind the back line.

The striker’s movement, rather than being parallel to the fence, will usually be forwards and backwards. The first movement will be a dummy run towards the ball, luring the defender off his line and creating space in behind. With a quick change of direction and pace, the striker will now attack this space. The delivery into the striker can be a driven pass or even a lob over the heads of the defenders.

This type of attack is highly effective against high defensive lines, but it requires precise timing and positioning. The striker must be able to read the defenders’ movements and make quick decisions to exploit the space behind the back line. The delivery into the striker must also be accurate and well-timed to avoid offside calls and give the striker the best chance of scoring.

Overall, the Direct Attack is a powerful tool in a team’s attacking arsenal and can be used to devastating effect against the opposition’s back line.

Passante

The Passante is a type of pass that is made behind the opposition’s backline into their blind spot. This blind spot is usually located directly behind one of the defenders and is often on the flanks away from the goal. The Passante is a technique that can be used to lob the ball over the right or left back, where the striker will curve their run and get onto the ball.

This type of pass is particularly effective when the attacker is in the half-space and the ball is being played on the outside of the fullback. It is a tricky move to stop and can slow down the defender’s movement, as they will need to completely rotate their body to reach the striker.

The Passante is one of the eight official ways of getting past the opposition’s backline. These categories all refer to different ways a team can bypass the opposition’s defense and create an opportunity by attacking the space behind the backline. The remaining categories all require at least one or two extra teammates to be possible.

Overlap

The overlap is a technique that involves a run from behind where the ball was played and into the space ahead of the player who made the pass. This move can be executed with a minimum of two players but is most effective with a third player present. The main idea behind the overlap is to create a man advantage situation such as a 2v1 or 3v2.

There are different types of overlaps that can be done, including an external overlap to attack the space on the flank, an internal overlap to attack the half space, or if there is a third player present, then there are a number of different runs that can be made. The third man can attack the space when the ball is laid off or can attack centrally to immediately create a goal-scoring opportunity.

The most important part for an overlap to be effective is that the player on the ball needs to lure the defenders out of position to create space either by dribbling towards them or by sitting back and allowing the defender to put pressure on him.

Overall, the overlap is a powerful technique that can create dangerous opportunities for a team to score a goal. By executing this move effectively, a team can gain a significant advantage over their opponents and increase their chances of winning the match.

Cross

The cross is a medium to long-range pass from a wide area towards an opponent’s goal, specifically with the intention of directly bringing the ball into the box from an angle that allows the attacking forwards to more easily aim for goal with their head or foot. It is one of the eight official ways of getting past the opposition’s backline.

Teams complete an average of 18.6 crosses per game, making it an essential skill to master. There are different types of crosses, including in-swingers, out-swingers, chipped, and driven crosses, all of which can be dangerous.

The choice of delivery is crucial, as a drilled cross could benefit some strikers, but those same strikers may lack the heading accuracy required for an out-swinger or in-swinger. The cross is a significant part of the game, and teams need to use it effectively to create scoring opportunities.