If I could channel my mother for one moment but... If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, Headers.Are.More.Difficult.Than.Kicked.Shots.

Now, if you’ve read any of the studies on headers I’ve linked over the last few weeks you might have noted that headers inside the six yard box are actually more likely to both be scored and be on target than shots by either foot. However this header attempt is both right on the edge of the box (borderline location) and sandwiched between two Seattle defenders making it a very difficult play.

Watch as the cross swung in by Oneil Fisher has Darren Mattocks get stuck as Kim Kee Hee gets position in front of him and Kelvin Leerdam leaves hardly any space to win the header. Props to Mattocks for even getting a head on the ball, but trying to direct it on frame under this circumstance was tough.

I rail a lot against the direct tactics of sending in crosses. I understand that some people take issue with that and I want to use this opportunity to dissect this play and speak to the good (and bad) things related to this sequence, which will hopefully bring some insight to these ideas.

The through ball to Zoltan Steiber and his run down the sideline helps transition the attack into the DC United final third. Seattle left back Nouhou Tolo does a solid job preventing him from doing much besides reaching the final third.

But the attack isn’t stopped and DC does a great job of cycling of the ball while Steiber, after passing the ball, moves inside and Nouhou follows him. This creates a nice pocket of space out wide for Fisher to slide into and sets the table for a decision to be made once he receives the ball.

Fisher has tons of space and time to make a choice on the best way to create a chance. Already DC is working from a disadvantage as there are three Sounders defenders in a nice compact space within the 18 yard box, with Mattocks mixed in. Yamil Asad is also sitting at the top of the box, but as you watch the play develop he doesn't show any intention of challenging for space but rather sneaks into the 18 and gains position in case the ball falls to open space.

Back to Fisher, he is waiting for something to develop. Nouhou recognizes the open space and attempts to close down the attacker. Fisher has three immediate options in front of him with a fourth that isn’t really a thing. First, he could pass to Steiber. Second, attempt to take Nouhou on 1v1. Third, cross the ball into the box. Lastly he could keep possession and dribble back into midfield---but, it’s not a strength of DC and they don't really have the personnel to facilitate that style of play.

The first option: a pass to Steiber isn’t really an option as he isn't really prepared to receive a pass from Fisher. He’s moving away from Fisher and I don’t think he’s even paying much attention to the situation that is starting to develop. If he was, there might be some space behind Nouhou to exploit and a really good chance to create a high leverage opportunity. But, this isn’t really an option. Pass on option one.

Nouhou’s approach to closing down Fisher is actually pretty careful and measured. I wasn’t especially kind to him during this game so I’m trying to go out of my way to give him props here. He isn’t giving Fisher a chance to run by him with a hard run but instead neatly creeps up on Fisher and cuts down on the direct angle to go at the touchline, which probably creates a better opportunity for a cross. Option two is out.

DC doesn’t really do much in terms of possession. On the season they have the third lowest possession numbers in MLS. And while they have Luciano Acosta, there aren’t many other guys which are going to help with controlling and holding on to the ball here. Option four isn’t really an option.

That leaves the last option of crossing the ball and that isn’t necessarily bad. It essentially aligns with DC tactics, which means nobody should be surprised to see the direct play and most of their team will be ready to try and move back into their defensive shape as soon as Fisher boots the ball and possession is lost.

But my issue here is that Fisher probably makes the wrong decision as to where to send the cross. Mattocks doesn’t have a lot of space and that the ball finds him is probably more luck than skill. If Fisher waits just a quarter of a second longer to watch the play develop he would see Paul Arriola make a clever near post run in front of Chad Marshall that would be prime for a cross.

This would be a higher percentage header but likely a lower percentage shot. That’s okay. Headers closer to the box are more likely to be scored but they’re all more likely to be put on target and with that have a higher save percentage. The hope here would be to force Stefan Frei into a save opportunity that he either he gets, deflects or misses and a goal is scored. If it’s deflected both Mattocks and Asad are there to pounce and create another high leverage chance (much like Mattocks first goal).

Crossing isn’t my favorite thing but there are opportunities that your opponent is going to give you that match up with your approach to the game. In those moments you just have to find the best play possible. At the time of the kick Mattocks wasn’t the ideal option, but he was probably the best out of Fisher's immediate options, sans the Arriola run. It didn’t pan out but there was a glimmer of a chance in it and this is what you’re looking for in those small windows of opportunities.

#4 - Adama Diomande, LAFC, 70th minute, 0.425 expected goals

Assisted by: Lee Nguyen

Number of passes in sequence: 8