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Corner Kick Routine Asks A Lot Of One Man, But He's Up For The Challenge

By Connor Fleming June 14, 2022
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The best way to deal with a counter is to eliminate it before it becomes a counter.
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I don't think the game has a more audacious plan of action than the corner kick that's aimed at — rather than the forest of limbs and heads gathered in the area — a solitary loner stationed outside the box.

The ploy requires perfection on the delivery. If it's inaccurate, the opponent wins possession and the counterattack is on. If it's accurate but without pace, the opponent rushes out, closes down the shot and the counterattack is on.

It also requires perfection on the shot. A preposterous volley attempt works best — there's a one-in-a-million chance it flies in and the other 999,999 times it's out for a goal-kick and a quick return to the defensive shape, otherwise, again, you're getting diced on the counter. 

Ahead 1-0 early in the second-half of Monday night's Nacional B match in Argentina, San Martín Tucumán risked it all against Brown de Adrogué by going for the audacious strategy after putting six decoy players in the box.

The service wasn't great — it forced Lucas Diarte backwards and into a settling touch. Three defenders rushed out to win possession and spring the counter, but Diarte's second touch is exactly why teams try this.   

In the end, perfectly executed.

To ask for more is to expect a divine miracle from two demigods of the game. The best example of that coming to fruition is David Beckham, not so much crossing the ball to Paul Scholes as he is lacing a shot at him, picking out Scholes and the Ginger Prince striding into a right-footed pile driver.  

Bradford City was not expecting this. 

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