struggle to apply the killer touch

サッカースペインリーグで，バルセロナがヴィジャレアルに引き分けて，首位のマドリードに引き離されてしまいました。最後の1タッチがうまく決まらないことを，struggle to apply the killer touchと表現しています。サッカーにおいてapplyはこのように使えるのですね。（Sugiuchi）
The corner that followed was headed in by Gonzalo Rodriguez, but he was adjudged to have been in an offside position. Villarreal saw a penalty claim against Sergio Busquets turned down two minutes into the second half but, that aside, Barça were the dominant force in the second period.
They pushed the hosts deeper as the game progressed, but struggled to apply the killer touch. A superb reverse pass from Messi unlocked the Villarreal defence only for Cesc Fabregas' heavy touch to allow Lopez to meet the ball and gather safely.
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1575737.html