Individual finishing situations decide matches. Not team shape. Not possession numbers.
Moments in front of goal under pressure.
The following two training games are designed for individual training with up to 7–8 players, adaptable to all age groups and performance levels, and focused on the most decisive attacking skill in soccer: finishing after a breakthrough under pressure.
This article builds on the principles explained in our previous article on Small-Sided Games
Why Individual Finishing Games Matter
Most finishing drills fail because they remove pressure, space constraints, or real defensive behavior.
Effective finishing games must:
- force a decision at speed
- include real defensive resistance
- replicate match-like distances to goal
Both games below are built around simple rules that players remember, making learning stick.
Individual Game 1: Breakthrough 1v1 That Opens to 2v2
How to Run
One attacker receives the ball facing one defender. Attackers try to score on goal. Defender can counter on the mini goal.
Variation: Coach opens to one side. A 2v2 with both sides starts to goal with offsides on the top of the box.
Key Coaching Points
- Speed up the play and finish fast
- 2nd Attacker: Make a run in behind
- Quick transition if you win/lose the ball
Why This Game Transfers to Match Situations
- Most goals are scored after a defender is beaten.
- This game mirrors wing breakthroughs, central dribbles into the box, and delayed defensive recovery.
- Players learn that the moment after beating a defender is time-critical, exactly like in real matches.
Individual Game 2: Frontal 1v1 Finishing Under Pressure
How to Run
Player position themselves as displayed. Two attackers’ position on the sides of on defender. An attacker on the ball passes into one of the attackers to start a 1v1 to goal.
Key Coaching Points
- Quick shots on goal
- Correct defensive body position and timing
- Early, controlled finishing under pressure
Why This Game Transfers to Match Situations
A pass in behind the defensive line that need a quick finish happens frequently in game like decisions. Also, bad angles towards the goal with pressure are replicated.
Coaching Adjustments for All Ages and Levels
- Adjust distance to goal
- Limit touches
- Choose even match ups
Final Thoughts
Individual finishing is not about repetition without context – It is about decision-making under pressure.
Both training games were generated and refined using the AI of Saideline to help coaches create realistic, match-relevant training scenarios faster and more effectively.
