Away goals rule?

[Daniel from Montréal]

For the qualifying round, does the team with the more away goals hold the advantage, like in UEFA competition? Or is there no away-goals rule?

[OrangeCajun]

Away goals do break ties.

[MoRado]

finally... this should have been applied a long time ago to the CCC (even though my club would have been knocked out a couple of times)

[OrangeCajun]

The Dynamo would have gone through to the final last year if it was in place then.

[MoRado]

The Dynamo would have gone through to the final last year if it was in place then.

huh? didnt we beat them 3-0 ?


edit**you said last year sorry, i thought you meant last season

[City Dave]

The Dynamo would have gone through to the final last year if it was in place then.

Well, with different rules in effect the games would have been approached differently by the players, managers, etc. So, it's not really plausible to look at things retroactively that way.

[Daniel from Montréal]

[pet peeve]

While we're getting started on this, I'd like to get it into everyone's head that AWAY GOALS DO NOT COUNT DOUBLE!

I don't know why people keep repeating such a falsehood, even UEFA CL commentators. A team losing 5-3 on the road does not win.

All it means is that in the event of a tie, the team with more away goals wins.

[/pet peeve]

[OrangeCajun]

Away goals do break ties.

Which is why I said that.

[OrangeCajun]

huh? didnt we beat them 3-0 ?


edit**you said last year sorry, i thought you meant last season

But we kicked all those balls in the net during warmups; that does'nt count?:D

[Sagy]

[pet peeve]

While we're getting started on this, I'd like to get it into everyone's head that AWAY GOALS DO NOT COUNT DOUBLE!

I don't know why people keep repeating such a falsehood, even UEFA CL commentators. A team losing 5-3 on the road does not win.

All it means is that in the event of a tie, the team with more away goals wins.

[/pet peeve]

Point taken, but technically this is not a falsehood :eek:, or at least I can tell you why people keep repeating it.

From the LOTG (page 50) (http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/federation/81/42/36/lotg_en_55753.pdf) under "PROCEDURES TO DETERMINE THE WINNER OF A MATCH OR HOME-AND-AWAY"
Away Goals
Competition rules may provide that where teams play each other home
and away, if the aggregated scores are equal after the second match, any
goals scored at the ground of the opposing team will count double. The key is that they count double only if the "aggregated scores are equal after the second match".

Where I have a problem with this rule is that some competitions count away goals scored in ET as "double" if the ET (mini game) was a tie. Basically, if both teams scored the same number of goals (>0) in ET then the away team wins. Having this rule for the 90+90 is fine, however, I think that once the second game goes to ET, the rule should be used.

[EvanJ]

I don't think away goals should be used if the teams hosted an unequal length of time because the second game went overtime.

[DonJuego]

I realize that the away-goals rule makes for more attacking soccer all-around. However, I'm disappointed to see CONCACAF use it. I think it is kinda goofy and artificial. Not so much that I won't watch every game I possibly can. :)

Admittedly, I like tight low scoring tactical soccer. When a game goes 3-2 so many folks call it a great game but I just see crappy defending.

[jared9999]

i've always been against the away goal rule but after watching so much libertadores and sudamericana it has grown on me and i am glad concacaf is using it

[SideshowBob]

I realize that the away-goals rule makes for more attacking soccer all-around. However, I'm disappointed to see CONCACAF use it. I think it is kinda goofy and artificial. Not so much that I won't watch every game I possibly can. :)

While I agree that it is artificial and somewhat unappealing, it is far less artificial and "goofy" than having to resort to penalty kicks to determine who advances. At least away goals is based on what happens in two normal regular 90 minute matches.

Away goals are perfect, but they are better than the alternative. I'm glad to see CONCACAF finally adopt them for club competitions.

[DonJuego]

While I agree that it is artificial and somewhat unappealing, it is far less artificial and "goofy" than having to resort to penalty kicks to determine who advances. At least away goals is based on what happens in two normal regular 90 minute matches.

Away goals are perfect, but they are better than the alternative. I'm glad to see CONCACAF finally adopt them for club competitions.

Just to be argumentative where it is probably not warrranted -- are you suggesting just because it reduces the games going to penalties it makes it better?

Your using the weakness of penalties to justify away-goals rule. That is a fallacy.

I hate penalties also. But i'd fix that -- not change the whole character of the 180 minute cup tie. (I'd keep playing but remove players from the field.)

OK -- so lets discuss this: Does the away-goals rule turn home-field advantage around so that you would prefer to have the second game away rather than home? When I watch UEFA cup/CL games it seems home teams, especially in the first leg tend to focus on just not giving up an away goal.

[SJJ]

STATUTES & REGULATIONS page
http://www.concacaf.com/stats_regs.aspx

Regulations, Champions League
http://www.concacaf.com/graphics/stats-regs/pdf/Regulations%20CONCACAF%20Champions%20Leaguev10.pdf

Note that away-goals will also be applied to the group stage. So if two team tie in points, you consider their two games to be the equivalent of a home-and-home series, and apply net points, then net goals, then away goals, in those game. (And just to clarify, the rules are written to apply for any number of teams tied: two, three, or four, and I'm considering the case of two teams tied.)


2.3 Tie-Breaker Procedures

In the event two teams are tied on aggregate goals scored at the end of Regulation time in the 2nd Leg (Preliminary Round or Championship Stage) or on points (Group Stage) the following tie-breaker criteria shall be applied, in order, to determine the winning team or ranking of teams.

Phase 1: Preliminary Round and Phase 3: Elimination Round

- Greater aggregate number of away goals scored in regulation time in the two matches (excluding any goals scored in overtime)
- Greater number of goals scored in the overtime periods at the end of the second match
- Kicks from the Penalty Spot procedure (as per FIFA Laws of the Game)

Phase 2: Group Stage

- Greater number of points earned in matches between the teams concerned
- Greater goal difference in matches between the teams concerned
- Greater number of goals scored away from home in matches between the teams concerned
- Reapply first three criteria if two or more teams are still tied
- Greater goal difference in all group matches
- Greater number of goals scored in group matches
- Greater number of goals scored away in all group Matches
- Drawing of lots

[Sagy]

...
- Greater aggregate number of away goals scored in regulation time in the two matches (excluding any goals scored in overtime)Give CONCACAF credit for getting this right.

[Leopejo]

Give CONCACAF credit for getting this right.
No, they got it wrong.

The team playing the second leg at home is already advantaged. That team getting 30 minutes more playing time at home is even more advantaged. Let at least away goals mitigate that advantage some.

[Sagy]

No, they got it wrong.

The team playing the second leg at home is already advantaged. That team getting 30 minutes more playing time at home is even more advantaged. Let at least away goals mitigate that advantage some.

Is there data to support this (playing second game at home being an advantage)?

[Daniel from Montréal]

Is there data to support this (playing second game at home being an advantage)?

If anything, the advantage of having the home crowd is offset by the away team being able to grab away goals.