Tag
Movement
Movement
17 definitions
Running toward the far post from a cross, arriving late into the danger area. The cross travels across the face of goal, past the near post runners and the goalkeeper, and finds someone arriving at the back. Defenders struggle to track back post runners because their eyes are on the ball. It requires timing and pace to arrive at the right moment.
Ronaldo's back post headers at Manchester United and Real Madrid were lethal. He'd hang off the back, time his run perfectly, and attack the ball as it flew across the six-yard box. Pure movement and anticipation.
Robbie
Jan 12, 2026
Running into the space between a centre-back and full-back. That gap is the "channel." Attackers who time runs into the channel are hard to track because neither defender wants to leave their position. A good channel run, combined with a good through ball, is one of football's most effective attacking combinations. Strikers who make these runs constantly stretch defenses.
Jamie Vardy's channel runs were the foundation of Leicester's title win. He'd drift wide, spot the gap between centre-back and full-back, and sprint into it. The defenders were never sure who was supposed to follow him.
Robbie
Jan 12, 2026