Two clear chances yesterday, two shots right at the keeper. I'm right footed. Both were running in from the right at the same angle - tighter than 45 degrees, but not a crazy hard angle. Both times the keeper nicely came out to cut down my angle. Both times I didn't have an option to cross, so had to shoot. Both times, I put it in his hands. Once at waist level, once at head level. I wanted to go far post, but to hit the far post from there with my right peg put it right into keeper's hands. I don't think I have the skill with my right to curve it accurately with the outside of my right boot and my left is not very reliable at anything. My problem is on the approach, I run out of ideas. If I was coming in from left, I'd curl it far post, but coming in from the right I feel like I have nothing to shoot at. What's my shot in that situation given my skill limitation? Is it hard on the ground, close to the keeper? I'm replaying it in my head and I still don't see the clear option in my mind's eye.
Two things I might try... Chip shot over the keeper. On a tight angle he's got to cover near post well and that means he's a long ways from far post - especially with him coming out. This should provide you with plenty of room to get it over him and then down under the bar. This is probably my best shot on a tight angle like that with a keeper closing. Otherwise... I would probably shoot low and hard. I would pick near post first if I had any daylight there at all. I might try between his legs just as he finishes his run and sets up his challenge. If you've watched on a challenge previously you might see a weakness in how he approaches/dives/etc it and that that may give you a spot to aim for. You should practice more with your left, I always shoot better with the more optimal-for-the-shot-foot regardless of my current skill deficiency with my non-primary, which has always seemed vast. I don't get the strongest strikes but they go where they should and it has worked for me so far, I've actually scored more with my weaker foot this season *shrug*, kinda fluky. I'd be curious to hear other opinions...
Like BackBlast said Chip shot over the keeper is the best option in this situation. I don´t think that an low and hard kick would be effective unless you are capable of giving an effect to the ball ( curving with the inside or the outside). I really recommend you to train your left foot and train with both feet to curve the ball with the inside and the outside of the foot.
I see this all the time playing at the lower leagues. No ability to finish with the weak foot makes you very easy to predict comming from the right from the keepers standpoint. The others basically said it, practice finishing with your weak foot, not with power, but accuracy. Just pass it with the instep into the goal with the weak foot. Like Cesc Fabregas said, imagine a team mate in the goal and just pass it to him with the weak foot. Depending on your dribble level and amount of pressure you were under, perhaps a fake shot as this:
If you smack it hard and low enough towards the far post it could always go in, but it's very easy to drive it too much to the left. If you can use your weak foot then you can just make a pass of a shot to get the ball in the net.
Thanks for all the advice, guys. Seems like I should cut to my left and stroke it far post in that situation. Next time!!!!!
If you are close, hitting a very low, hard shot is very difficult for a moving keeper to save. It takes too long to reach with the hands and he cannot kick save with the foot bearing his weight. Chances are the keeper is moving toward the near post, making the far post the better target. But if he hasn't closed down the near post (like he should), punish him for the mistake A chip is extremely difficult to pull off if the keeper is close to the goal and you are under pressure. Close to the goal there just isn't enough distance for a chipped ball to duck under the crossbar after clearing an adult keeper's 9-10 foot reach.
Really, anywhere in the penalty area, striking with both feet is not a matter of skill so much as a matter of confidence. It is not that hard to do. It amazes me that so many players don't wish to risk using their weak foot.
Another component of that confidence is knowing when you have time to pull the ball onto your other foot. I just had a game three weeks ago where the difference between several embarrassing misses in the first half and scoring a hat-trick in the second half was mainly taking that extra touch when I had the space instead of hitting rushed first-time shots. I've probably scored 3/4 of my goals with my left foot over the last 10 years or so, even though I'm very right-footed. (And I've played almost entirely in attacking positions in that time, so it's definitely not a statistical fluke.) I think there are two things that play into that: being more deliberate with my left foot because I know I can't shoot very hard with that foot, and/or defenders giving me that side when they see I'm obviously right-footed. If you get into the box a lot, expect to shoot with your weak foot very frequently.
One of my pet sayings is that "you get one free shot with the left foot in every match." Defenders typically assume you have no left foot until you prove otherwise.
Wow, there was an identical situation just now late in the Celtic / Barca match. Dude finished his chance - just whacked it past the keeper with power. Nice finish.
I play as Striker, and I am right footed but I could say that 50% of my goals in the area are with my left foot, not only because most of the defenders are right footed so its easier to find space with the left foot, and because most of the defenders dont give much attention to your weaker foot.
It's also not too different from another goal you'll definitely remember: Landon Donovan's vs. Slovenia in the World Cup. That was actually the first thing the original post reminded me of. Donovan, of course, blasted the ball straight at the keeper's face, and the keeper flinched.
Definitely - love that goal, one of my all time faves given the situation and all. Oddly enough, both of these are right footed and I'm here lamenting my inability to open up onto my left and curl it far post
Put the video in 0,40 Yochiro Kakitani who scores the goal for Cerezo Osaka is righ footed, but in part of the field where he recieved the ball it was only possible to kick with the left foot, you can see that his kick wasn't even powerful but it was accurate
I'm definitely more deliberate with my left also, I always end up trying very hard to put it exactly where I want it. Good to know I'm not the only one
Can't over think it or you'll get paralysis by analysis in a game situation. It's cliche but practice, practice, practice—everything. Low hard shots, curlers, draws, knuckle balls, half volleys, etc. In a pressure situation that's when you're training will take over and you can react faster and be more confident. Growing up I'd practice at least an hour a day firing shots into a chain link fence. I'd purposefully train to hit the pipes or just on either side of the pipe—to build accuracy. Growing up, I remember watching Manchester United in their hey day (did it ever end?) and there would be these scrambles for loose balls in the penalty area and MU players would fire the ball as hard as they can. It inspired me because, what I saw in my training was if people tried to do that they'd blast it over or wide—I was awed at how they were utterly confident that they couldn't miss the target. If you build up the repertoire of shots you are capable of executing then these ideas will present themselves in a game situation? At this stage, none of us probably think too much about basic passes—because we've mastered them. But too many have not mastered, myself included, the situations in front of goal.
Happy day after thanksgiving everyone. I hope you all took human bites yesterday and not those crazy over eating bites. Ok on finishing on coming in from the right. Where the keeper comes out to cut your angle on your shot. If you still want to shoot with your right foot on the right side. Move out more to your right that shoot high. That will give you more space to shoot on the right side. For you too see it. Go to a goal have a player representing the keeper come out to cut the angle. Then you move more out to the right then you can see you will have more space on the right to shoot at. If you want to shoot on the left side. Can you pass on the ground using your left foot? If you can there is an old skill no one uses anymore. Let's say you want to pass to some one and a defender is in the passing lane. We used to air the ball with outside spin on it a little past where the defender is standing with spin. The ball hits the ground with that spin and like tge ball has eyes it goes around the defender right to your intended receiver. You can use that same spin to score in the far side goal and that pass will always be on goal. Go to a goal with a lot of balls and practice it and see. Put eyes on your pass. You should be able to do it in an hour or less. Trick is don't put much air under that pass and have a lot of spin on the ball. Spin moving from left to right when coming from the right. ----- Another When coming from an angle you have to do something to get the keeper to move laterally in one direction or the other direction. When he does that just pas the ball into the goal where he just left don't wait. He won't be able to go back where he just left to make the save
Unless you can really, REALLY curve it around to the far post, that's an easy shot to stop (and even then it'd have to curve quite a lot for it to be really difficult for any competent keeper NOT to save it). I'd go near post high or low OR nutmeg the keeper if he gives you that option. If he's really good at stopping most shots but if I'm feeling really good as well, at the last second I'll twist to my right and do the whole back-heel from in front of my left foot low and on the ground. Frequently, if you can do it competently and quickly, it'll meg them or go near post past them. That last little bit of twisting and misdirection works wonders in that pressure-filled moment. And for confidence, remember this - the onus is on them to STOP YOU, not on you to score a sure goal. Use that pressure against them with some deception or quick tricks, as needed (not all the time, by any means). Use the simplest option if it's available or if the keeper just isn't that great, otherwise, try higher-level stuff. Good luck and don't get down on yourself. You're already in the right frame of mind because you're reaching out to your fellow players for advice in order to improve. Well done.
If your 1 on 1 with the keeper as you say from a <45 degree angle then in theory (if the keeper has done his job correctly) you will have very little of the goal to aim at, therefore less chance of scoring. Take a look up and see if he has left space at the near post. If he has then roll it in the gap.( he won't expect you to shoot there, as a genetal rule keepers will expect the steiker to shoot across goal)if he has this area covered you have several options... 1. Cut inside to the left giving yourself more of the goal as a target, the keeper will then follow you across the goal, depending on how quickly he does this you can either cut it back towards where he has come from (his weight and motion will still be going the other way so hell struggle to make the save) or just aim for the other post if he's too slow and left it open. I know you said your left foots weak but you only need to make a connection with the ball, the ball is moving as you dribble it so this will create power and your targets aren't precise in this situation so accuracy doesn't need to be as good... 2. Again cut inside towards the centre of the goal but tale another touch and put it onto your right foot ( you will now effectively be in a penalty kick situation against the keeper) and pick your spot in the goal. 3. You said you had no option for the cross but as you are alone with just the keeper you should be able ti hold the ball up and wait for help in the centre and square the ball for a tap in. You could also just square it anyway and hopefully a teammate will get there before a defender and if they don't then there not doing their job or working hard enough. This could be a better option than taking a shot you know is unlikely to go in... 4. As people have said you could aim for the far post.however to beat the keepe from here I'd suggest driving the ball hard as the keeper will have the angel well covered but the pace and power of the ball could beat him... 5. Again as people have said try the curl with outside of the boot. However this is a hard skill to master... 6. If your dribbling skills are good you could dribble it around the keeper and walk it into the net, this could also bring a foul and therefore a penalty! Just remember to keep the ball shielded and don't let the keeper see it or he'll snatch it away. Get between him and the ball. Whilst at tottenham Robbie Keane did this to great effect whole at tottenham. 7. Unless the keeper is a decent way out I wouldn't suggest chipping h as the ball has very little time to go up and then back down again. Messi makes it look easy but it really isn't! If all else fails then just go for the famous hit and hope! This can also be effective and players such as ketamine Defoe tend to use this tactic to devastating effect! Good luck! Let us know if your finishings improved!