The Easiest Goals in the iPL That Nobody Practises For
Ask any honest iPL captain and they'll admit the same thing: their team doesn't really have set piece routines. Maybe they have a "go to the back post" instruction. Maybe a vague "someone get on the end of it" approach to corners. But actual organised routines? Rarely.
This is a genuine competitive advantage waiting to be taken. In tight iPL matches — and a surprising number are tight — a well-worked corner or free kick creates chances that don't come from open play. You're not relying on your opponent making a mistake. You're creating a situation where you already know what's going to happen and they don't.
What Makes a Set Piece Work
The basic principle: the defending team is organised and stationary. Their job is to block the initial delivery. A good set piece routine exploits the moment after that initial block — the second ball, the decoy run that pulled a marker away, the player making a late run who the wall didn't track.
Near-post corners that arrive flat and fast are harder to deal with than looping balls to the back post. They require the keeper to come for a cross through traffic, or force a defender to deal with a ball moving quickly. Get enough bodies in the box, and one of them will get a touch.
Free Kicks in Dangerous Areas
The iPL matches where free kicks get awarded in the final third are opportunities that most teams waste. The wall is set, the keeper is positioned, and most takers either blast it over or roll it sideways to avoid the risk.
A small number of iPL players are reliable from these positions. If you have one, build a routine around them. Get bodies in the box for the second ball. Have a runner set up on the edge of the area for the cut-back. The keeper is prepared for the direct shot — they're less prepared for a quick combination that ends with a tap-in.
One Session Can Change Your Season
You don't need to invest weeks into this. One organised session where you agree on two corner routines and one free kick approach gives you something to use for the rest of the season. Teams that score from set pieces regularly don't have complicated routines. They just have routines — which already puts them ahead of teams that go to corners with no plan at all.