Corner kicks are hard to score from, unless you are one of the players who capitalise on glitch and exploits. That said, there are a number of techniques to increase your chances of scoring legitimately. Let’s learn more in this tutorial.
- Key Corner Taking Attributes
- Variations of Corner Kicks and How to Score
- Defending Corner Kicks
1. Key Corner Taking Attributes
Our designated corner taker should have high ratings in the following attributes.
Lofted Pass – Accuracy of high passes
Set Piece Taking – Accuracy by taking a corner kicks, free kicks, and penalties
Curl – Ability to curl the ball when taking corner kicks
Before taking a corner, press ‘Select’ and choose the player with a high rating. Note that this rating is his set piece rating, which is different from his overall skill rating. Players with high skill rating may have low set piece rating, and vice versa. Selecting a suitable player will greatly improve the delivery from the corner kick.
2. Variations of Corner Kicks
Corner kicks can be taken with two methods. The first is by using the corner kick taker to send the ball in. The second method is to use off-the-ball controls, by pushing the right analog stick towards one of your teammates to control his run and attack the aerial ball. These 2 methods will be covered below.
2.1 Using the Corner Kick Taker
The key to a successful corner kick is to send the ball to teammates who are unmarked. During a corner kick, teammates will be move around, and sometimes jostle with their markers to get into a good position. Be patient and wait for a teammate to be slightly ahead of his marker before sending the ball in. Depending on the situation in the box, we can adopt one or a combination of the following methods to take the corner kick.
2.1.1 Aim for the Center of the box
2.1.2 Near Post
Usually, there will be a teammate at the near post. If we lack tall players in our team, the corner can be played towards this player. We should aim the ball either to the side where he is not marked, or aim it slightly behind him, for him to take a few steps to meet and head the ball towards goal. The near post corner is also good option if you find that the center of the box is very congested. For a quick delivery to the near post, you can push the Left Analog Stick down a little, such that the ball travels lower and faster through the air.
2.1.3 Far Post
The far post is usually unguarded, which makes it a good spot to aim towards. The tricky part is sending an accurate ball to the far post, as it is some distance away. To increase the chances of the ball reaching a teammate, push the Left Analog Stick up to give the ball more height, or else it will be intercepted by a tall defender.
2.1.4 Swerve and Arc
Corners can be outswinging, inswinging, or without curl. An outswinging corner curls away from the goal keeper, while an inswinging corner curls in towards the goal keeper. The direction of curl depends on the dominant foot of your corner kick taker.
In the event that the box is very congested, we can send a high arc ball by holding down on your d-pad while charging power for the corner kick. The ball will fly high into the sky before falling into the box. This is useful when we have tall players in the box. The extra time provided by the high arc allows us to put them in a good position and challenge for the aerial ball.
To send a low arc, powerful cross into the box, hold up on your d-pad while powering up your corner kick.
Alternate between in-swinging / out-swinging and high arc / low arc to add unpredictability to your game.
2.1.5 Low Cross into box
To spring a surprise on your opponent, send a low cross into the box. Push the Left Analog Stick all the way down and charge up sufficient power to send a strong low cross in. Aim for a teammate who is unmarked, or walking away from his marker.
2.1.6 Low Cross out of box
Sending a corner kick into the box is too conventional. To mix things up, send a low cross to a teammate outside the box. Usually, there will be two of them a few steps outside the box, and they are usually unmarked. Push down the Left Analog Stick and charge the power fully to send the ball to them. This should only be done after ensuring that there are no defenders near the edge of the box to intercept your pass. Once the low pass finds a teammate, the first option is to take a first time shot. If that is not possible, play short passes around the box to work your way in.
2.1.7 High pass out of box
Should there be opponents in the way to prevent a low pass, you can send a high pass to players outside the box. This presents them with an opportunity to try a first time volley shot on goal.
2.1.8 Edge of Box
In most corner kick situations, there will be a teammate loitering at the edge of the box close to you. Send a pass for him to take a shot on goal if the penalty box is too crowded.
Varying your corner kick with these options highlighted helps to add unpredictability in your game.
2.1.9 Corner Instructions
During corner kicks, press left on your d-pad to activate instructions. Choose from ‘Dash’, ‘6 yard box’, ‘Train’, and ‘Far post’. Use these instructions in training mode to get familiar with the runs and positioning of your players.
2.1.10 Short Corner
During corner kicks, press right on your d-pad to activate short corner options. Choose from ‘Touchline’, ‘Runner from deep’, ‘Two options’, and ‘Runner from edge of box’. Teammates will run towards the corner flag to receive a short pass. You can then work your way into the box by deliver a cross, low pass, or dribble your way in. This is a good move if your team does not have strong headers of the ball to pose a threat during corner kick.
2.2 Off the Ball Control
Besides using the corner kick taker to send the ball in, we can use off-the-ball control. Pushing the Right Analog Stick towards a teammate and take control of him. You can use this to select a midfielder or defender and make him run all the way up to join in the corner kick. Here are a few tips to increase your chances of scoring.
2.2.1 Run Into Space
Control your player, sprint past the marker into space inside the box and press the Cross button to command the corner kick taker to send the ball to you. You will have to time the moment the cross button is pressed, as the ball should be sent in when you are some distance away from your marker, yet not too near to the goal keeper.
2.2.2 Control the Tallest Player
A good method is to take control of the tallest player to use his height advantage. Tall players can easily win a physical aerial battle against most defenders. From outside the box, make a run in and press the Cross button. Since the corner kick will be sent in the direction of the run, try to ensure that there is space in front of you to attack the ball.
2.2.3 Encourage Collision
The opponent markers will follow our player blindly. We can take advantage of this by moving around in the box such that the marker runs into other teammates in the box. The opponent will take a few seconds to recover after a collision, which leaves your player unmarked. Quickly send the corner kick in for a free header on goal.
2.2.4 Be Ignored
When using off the ball controls, the AI marker will follow you tightly if you run towards goal. However, when you jog away from goal, the marking will not be as close. Take advantage of this by first running towards goal, and stroll away from goal towards an open space. Chances are, your marker will not follow you as closely, allowing you to call for the ball in an unmarked position.
3. Defending corner kicks
3.1 Positioning
Defending corner kicks is easier than trying to score from one, since all we have to do is to clear the ball away. To defend, choose the tallest player in the team, preferably a defender or a midfield, and place him slightly towards the near post, between the goal and the opponent, as this is the part of the goal which most players aim for. This puts him in a good position to clear any high balls into the box. Positioning him in front of an opponent when challenging for a high ball increases his chances of winning the header. Press the shoot button once the ball reaches the peak of its height and is on its way down, to increase your chances of winning the aerial ball and clearing it away to safety.
At times, you may find online players playing a cross along the touchline towards your goalkeeper, hoping to get a rebound off a player into goal. Prevent this by selecting a player and running toward the corner flag along the touchline before your opponent takes the corner kick. Most of the time, your player will be able to block the ball out for another corner kick.
3.2 Marking
Press Left on your d-pad to activate marking options. Choose from ‘Mixed’, ‘Man to Man’, and ‘Zonal’.
4. Conclusion
Every corner kick is different and there is no certain way to score. The key to scoring is sending the ball to a tall teammate, or a teammate that is unmarked. Vary your corner kick delivery to keep your opponents guessing.
All images credit: Konami