A Game of Deficits

Everybody who has ever stepped on a soccer field wants to put the ball into the back of the net. But how does that actually happen?

Goals are achieved by players working individually or in concert to create deficits between their own team and that of the opponent. That is, a team's aim should be to create situations where we have a quantitative (numerical) advantage (2 vs 1, 3 vs 2), a qualitative (ability-based) advantage (our skill player versus a lessor defender, or two...) or situational advantage (set piece, corner, free or penalty kick) which lead to opportunities to place our shooter in a location with the space and time put the ball on target with a generally higher than average probability of it hitting the net.

The more frequent the instance of advantage that we create, the more likely we will be able to generate opportunities to score. At some point the odds are overcome by the frequency of opportunities and if the ball lands in the back of the net enough times then we secure a victory.

Each skill and tactic we learn should enhance our ability to create deficits.