Playing a 5-4-1 and Counter Attacking with Opponents Defending High

Playing a 5-4-1 and Counter Attacking with Opponents Defending High

In this presentation, we are playing a 1-5-4-1 (1-3-4-3) defending deeper and Counter Attacking. This strategy can be used when your team is winning but under immense pressure. Your focus is on defending then counter attacking. You can also experiment playing this way for an educational experience. Lastly, we look at the timing of various run so as not to be offsides.

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Soccer Awareness Session: Quick Break Counter Attack

Soccer Awareness Session: Quick Break Counter Attack

The team in possession has to make three passes then they can pass into the lone striker. Two
midfield players break quickly to support (making a 4 v 2 overloads in favor of the attacking team) and / or one defensive midfielder can recover. Start with a big overload then introduce the recovering midfielder later when the session is working well to offer a bigger challenge. This leaves a 4 v 1 situation in the middle zone in favor of the other team who are currently defending, if no recovering midfielder is used to begin. If the defenders win the ball or the keeper receives it, the ball is played quickly into the middle zone (to a 4 v 1 overload again) where they make three passes then get the ball into the striker to attack in the other direction.

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