Kansas City Current’s Short Corner Routine: Breaking Down a Game-Changing Set Piece
The Kansas City Current, a relatively new addition to the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), have rapidly found their tactical rhythm despite early setbacks and key player injuries. In just their second season, the Current have begun to climb the league table, demonstrating both resilience and the capacity for smart set-piece play under head coach Matt Potter. A recent 2-2 draw against league leaders San Diego Wave showcased the team’s growing confidence and tactical innovation—most notably through a brilliantly executed short corner routine that resulted in a crucial goal.
Background: Kansas City’s Journey and Tactical Evolution
Founded just 18 months ago, Kansas City concluded their inaugural NWSL campaign at the bottom of the standings. Early in the following season, the squad grappled with the absence of key players Lynn Williams and Sam Mewis due to injuries, making the search for a consistent identity even more testing. However, with a roster full of determined talents and a coach committed to tactical variety, Kansas City’s positive performances have become increasingly frequent. Their set-piece strategy against a team stacked with San Diego’s stars, including Alex Morgan and Sofia Jakobsson, is a testament to their collective progress.
Set-Piece Analysis: The Structure of Kansas City’s Short Corner
One of the most striking moments from the draw with San Diego was the Current’s second goal, crafted from a well-drilled short corner. Unlike traditional routines, which often involve swinging crosses into crowded penalty areas, Kansas City orchestrated a layered approach that exposed the vulnerabilities of San Diego’s zonal marking.
Key components of the routine included:
– **Initiator:** Alex Loera, a left-sided center-back renowned for her passing range and composure, was responsible for delivering corners.
– **Change in Delivery:** Instead of aiming for a direct, lofted ball, Loera played a short pass to Hailie Mace, who positioned herself towards the edge of the box.
– **Attacker Positioning:** Three primary attackers—Hamilton, LaBonta, and Bennett—clustered around San Diego’s goalkeeper, Kailen Sheridan. Crucially, Bennett acted as a physical screen directly in front of the keeper, impacting Sheridan’s visibility and command.
– **San Diego’s Response:** The Wave’s reliance on a pure zonal marking system failed to account for Kansas City’s overload near the keeper, leaving attackers untracked and providing them space within the six-yard box.
Exploiting Defensive Gaps with Clever Movement
San Diego’s zonal approach put immense pressure on Sheridan, as their defensive line did not react to the clustering of attackers. Loera had previously attempted direct deliveries to challenge the keeper, but for this routine, the emphasis shifted to a short play. As Mace received care and time atop the box, the San Diego defenders instinctively pushed their line out to create offside traps. However, this only worked to Kansas City’s advantage.
Key tactical elements involved:
– Timing runs from an offside to onside position, making marking unpredictable for defenders.
– Utilizing the movement of attacking players to find and exploit pockets of space as the defense shifted higher.
– Executing a sequence where Mace delayed play briefly (a tactical pause known as “La Pausa”), giving her teammates the window to maneuver into gap-filled spaces.
The Decisive Second Phase: Execution and Finish
The routine’s brilliance reached its peak in the second phase. As defenders vacated the danger area to spring an offside trap, Mace waited before returning the ball to Loera, who had looped back onside and positioned herself for a first-time cross. While San Diego defenders were transitioning and facing their own goal—a situation ripe for mistakes—Loera delivered a precise ball into the box.
Elyse Bennett, timing her movement to perfection, found a seam between defenders and, despite not making the cleanest contact, slotted the ball into the net from close range. The defensive confusion and the exploitation of marking gaps directly contributed to the goal—a textbook demonstration of how a well-rehearsed routine can outmaneuver a static zonal system.
How to Replicate Kansas City’s Short Corner Routine
Coaches and players seeking to emulate this set-piece can follow these practical steps:
– **Recognize Defensive Shape:** Identify if opponents are using a rigid zonal marking setup with unmarked players near the goal.
– **Position Attackers Creatively:** Place physically dominant forwards close to the goalkeeper to create screens and confuse defenders.
– **Utilize Timing and Pauses:** Have a player receive the short pass with enough distance from the nearest defender to allow for a controlled pause. This provides crucial seconds for other attackers to reposition and break the defensive line.
– **Sequence Coordination:** The original corner taker must loop back into an onside position in time to receive the return pass and deliver a cross; this sequence must be timed perfectly.
– **Attack the Gaps:** Runners should time their movements from offside positions into pockets vacated by defenders pushing out, allowing them to finish unmarked.
**Tips for effective execution:**
– Drill movements to enhance timing between the pass receivers and attacking runners.
– Encourage players to read opposition defensive schemes and recognize when to apply the routine.
– Emphasize the importance of quality first-time crosses and spatial awareness inside the box.
Key Takeaways: Why This Routine Works
What sets Kansas City’s routine apart is its exploitation of conventional defensive responses—particularly the tendency for defenses to move up-field once the corner ball leaves the box, attempting to spring attackers offside. By initiating movements from advanced positions and using pausing techniques, Kansas City’s attackers force defenders to react late and struggle to reset, creating high-probability scoring opportunities.
While no routine guarantees goals every match, recognizing the right moment—when a player finds herself unmarked at the top of the box—can transform a routine corner kick into a decisive play.
Conclusion
Kansas City Current’s inventive short corner routine demonstrates the impact of preparation, timing, and tactical intelligence in modern football. By analyzing their approach and adapting these steps, teams at all levels can enhance their set-piece repertoire and unlock new ways to break down stubborn defenses. For coaches, understanding the types of defensive schemes used by opponents and tailoring corner strategies accordingly can be a game-changer, much like it was for Kansas City against San Diego Wave.
For more tactical breakdowns or to watch this set-piece in action, check out match footage from the NWSL and explore additional resources on innovative set-piece strategies.
