Because of MLS Team Parity/Abundance of Draws, Should AWAY GOALS count as TWO for MLS PLAYOFFS?

[4mybroRRT]

I think several MLS Playoffs series will go down to penalty kicks after the 2nd match ends in regulation due to MLS Team parity and the abundance of draws you already see (and will probably continue to see) throughout the MLS regular season.

I think to keep the MLS playoffs an exciting, open, offensive-minded affair (esp. for the away teams) MLS should adopt the AWAY GOAL playoff rule. Make AWAY GOALS count for TWO to keep teams from just bunkering down, esp. in the 1st match, of a MLS Playoff series.

A similiar model to what you see in the UEFA Champions League.

Your thoughts?

[El Naranja]

Instead of trying to copy what is done in Europe, let us use thoughts from the biggest soccer league in the US, along with the biggest sports league in the world?

[SombraAla]

How about we make all goals worth 10? Then we'll have really high scoring games!

[ECUNCHATER]

I don't like the road goal rule. I think it sucks. The goal is the same size on all fields. When the score is 1-1 after 2 games the away team shouldn't get to advance just because they scored on the road in a 1-1 draw. They should have to earn it by winning in OT, or a shootout.

[lurking]

I don't like the road goal rule. I think it sucks. The goal is the same size on all fields. When the score is 1-1 after 2 games the away team shouldn't get to advance just because they scored on the road in a 1-1 draw. They should have to earn it by winning in OT, or a shootout.

The away goal rule seems to me to be a good rule for insuring relative equality in chance when two teams play a home and home. That of course isnt the point of the MLS playoff structure, which is designed to weight toward the home team. Having the OT played on your home field weights is a competitive advantage over the team playing the away leg.

[Felixx219]

The away goal rule is the worst tiebreaker. A coin toss is better.

A goal is a goal. Not to mention different games are played in different manners. One game in the aggregate could be a fast-paced, high scoring game while the second could be played in pouring rain and be a slow defensive battle. The team that had to play at home in the first game shouldnt be penalized.

Moving to a best of 3 series would be a better resolution IMO.

[Lucho305]

The away goal rule is the worst tiebreaker. A coin toss is better.

A goal is a goal. Not to mention different games are played in different manners. One game in the aggregate could be a fast-paced, high scoring game while the second could be played in pouring rain and be a slow defensive battle. The team that had to play at home in the first game shouldnt be penalized.

Moving to a best of 3 series would be a better resolution IMO.

Hell no are you crazy?!!? Best of 3 series sounds like if this was hockey, or NBA play-offs. just keep it the way it is now, or im all for the away goal rule, that is if the play-offs are two legged ofcourse....

It wouls be better because the teams would have to really play hard and defend well to not lose...

[Sanguine]

Away goals as a tiebreaker is perhaps the worst rule in the history of organized sports. Not only is it completely arbitrary, it also doesn't even accomplish what it was meant to accomplish. In many instances, it actually accomplishes the exact opposite.

[RichardL]

Away goals as a tiebreaker is perhaps the worst rule in the history of organized sports. Not only is it completely arbitrary, it also doesn't even accomplish what it was meant to accomplish. In many instances, it actually accomplishes the exact opposite.
How?

It's there to decide which team advances. I can't think of any examples of it not achieving that.

[chimultrufio]

away goal rule works because it rewards the higher seed for earning a better record during the season :)