Wing 2v1 to Cross and Finish
A full-back and a winger beat one defender in a wide channel and cross for two strikers against a centre-back and goalkeeper. Crossing with real decisions.
- Age
- U11–Senior
- Players
- 7–12
- Duration
- 18 min
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Area
- 35 × 30 m
- Type
- Tactical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Waves
- Objectives
- Technical: Crossing, Finishing
- Tactical: Combination play
- Concepts worked on
- Technical:Crossing
- Tactical:WidthNumerical superiorityAttacking the box
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Goalkeeper
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Dribble
- Shot
- Ball
- Cone
- Goal
Crossing drills without defenders rarely transfer to matches. Here the wide pair must first create the cross — with an overlap, a wall pass or a dribble — against an opponent, and the strikers attack the box against a centre-back. Crosses arrive where real defenders let them, and the strikers learn to time their runs.
Objective
Create a crossing chance with a 2v1 on the wing and attack the near and far post to finish.
Organisation
- 35 × 30 m area with a goal and goalkeeper. An 8 m wide channel runs along one touchline.
- In the channel: a full-back and a winger against one defender. In the middle: two strikers against one centre-back.
- Extra players queue at the start of the channel. Switch to the other wing every 5 minutes to use both feet.
How it works
- The full-back starts with the ball at the bottom of the channel.
- The wide pair must cross from inside the channel, past the cone line 12 m from the goal line.
- The wide defender cannot leave the channel; the strikers and centre-back cannot enter it.
- A goal from a cross is worth 2; any other goal is worth 1. The defenders score 1 by clearing the ball out of the area or passing to the coach.
- Rotate roles after each action. 3 series of 5 minutes.
Coaching points
- Winger: dribble inside to draw the defender, then release the overlapping full-back.
- Full-back: overlap at speed, outside the winger, and ask for the ball in front of you.
- Cross before the defender recovers: low and hard to the near post or high to the far post.
- Strikers: one attacks the near post, the other the far post. Arrive when the ball arrives, not before.
- Hold the run on the edge of the box until the crosser looks up.
Progressions
- Add a second centre-back (2v2 in the box).
- The wide defender may follow the play out of the channel.
- A goal must come within 10 seconds of the first pass.
Regressions
- The wide defender only intercepts (passive).
- Add a third striker for 3v1 in the box.
- The cross can be played from anywhere in the channel.
Variations
- Add a midfielder who arrives late at the edge of the box for cut-backs.
Key principles
- Create the overload before crossing.
- Near post and far post always occupied.
- Timing of the runs into the box.
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