One of the best opportunities a player can get in a soccer game is a one on one with the goalkeeper. Your odds of scoring in this situation are dramatically higher than in most other situations on a soccer field. Unfortunately, this is also one of the most nerve-wracking things that can happen in a game.
You have a ball at your feet and you’re sprinting as fast as you can at a goalkeeper that is sprinting out at you from the other direction. Everything happens so fast that if you’re not prepared, it’s easy to lose your head and throw away a great chance.
This video will teach you how to practice for a one on one with a goalkeeper, as well as giving you 3 strategies you can use in a game to beat a keeper and score a goal.
To practice this situation, start off by placing a full sports bag between you and the goal. This will act as your goalkeeper. Make sure that this bag is full enough to stop or deflect a soccer ball. This way, you actually have an obstacle to go around while practicing your one on ones.
There are three basic things you can do in this situation.
Move #1 – Quick cut and a shot
This is the easiest thing to do when faced with a one on one. Sprint at the goalkeeper as fast as you can. At the last second, take a quick touch to the outside and have a shot. The strategy behind this move is to do your quick cut so fast that the keeper doesn’t have a chance to react. Cut the ball just far enough to the outside that the goalie isn’t between the ball and the goal, then take a shot on goal. If you get really nervous in one on one situations, this is probably the strategy you should use.
Move #2 – Move with a shot
While the fastest and easiest thing to do to get a shot off is to just take a quick cut and shoot, another strategy you can use is to try to get the goalkeeper to jump the wrong way. Do a move, pretending to take the ball one direction, then take the ball the other direction with a quick touch and have a shot. The key to the success of this strategy is quickness, so make sure you don’t give the keeper time to recover after your move and before your shot.
Move #3 – The Chip
This move is a favorite of Lionel Messi’s. The key to this move is to get the keeper to slide for the ball, then you chip it over him. Dribble hard at the keeper and take a quick touch to the side. The idea with this quick touch is to get the keeper to think you’re trying to go around him so he slides after the ball. As soon as you see the keeper start to go down, chip the ball up and over him into the back of the net. This is the riskiest of these three moves because it relies on the keeper going to ground, but if pulled off properly, it is very effective and looks impressive.
What other moves do you do in a one on one situation? Let me know in the comments below.
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If you’re looking for some great resources to get you started on your soccer training journey, check out our individual soccer drills page. These drills are all free and are intended to help you grow as a player.
For something a little more in-depth, check out our soccer training guides section.
