The Strongest Corner Kick Even Sporting Use: The Legendary Near-Side Routine

In general, any team that uses a zonal defence on corners tends to leave the near side unmanaged, so if you exploit that properly, you can create far more scoring chances.

This article explains the only reliable way to break down the near side, using a corner-kick routine that is both famous and extremely powerful.

Initial shape and target

Initial shape: a standard triangle

Target: the near side

In a Y-shaped zonal defence, the basic rule is to protect the space in front of you, so the near side often becomes an unguarded area. This routine attacks that gap.

Order of priority:

1. Through the near side into the inside lane
2. Directly into the inside lane
3. Outside
4. Goalkeeper (if there is no other outlet at all)