It has been tested by Guido with Tottenham and i have used it in every game i played. On lower levels indeed the amount of goals are scored are less then with better quality players. The fact still remains that the opponent doesn't close down your players on the edge of the box quick enough so there is always a goal scoring opportunity there.
About the simulation remark, i always watch my games extended or full so that might be a factor, not sure though.
This just happened twice in a pre-season game so it does work (but maybe only with better teams).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkyKAMevtZU
Where is the other player who attack from deep or lurk outside? I noticed that most of time my attack from deep player is marked, corner goes too much inside penalty area or the delivery is poor, with my lurk outside player receiving the ball in bad conditions to shoot, getting closed down easily. Corner taker got 15 attribute for corners and player lurking outside 15 long shots, 14 first touch, 14 dribbling, player attacking from deep got -1 on all those attributes relative to the player lurking outside.