Can a soccer match end in a penalty shootout?
When shootouts are used
Knockout tournaments such as cup competitions usually play extra time after a draw, then move to a shootout if the score is still level. League matches often end level, so no shootout takes place.
The format varies by competition. Some events play two extra periods of fifteen minutes, while others skip extra time and go straight to penalties.
Fans often notice that a shootout can feel random, but the goalkeeper and the kicker both have a role in each attempt. Coaches usually pick kickers in advance and keep a backup list in case a player is injured or sent off.
How the shootout is run
Each team takes five kicks from the penalty spot in alternating order, and the team with more goals after five kicks wins. If the score is still level, the kicks continue one at a time until one team pulls ahead.
Only players on the field at the end of extra time can take part, and the goalkeeper stays on the goal line during each kick.
Referees keep a record of each kick and the order in which players take them, which helps settle questions about who was scheduled to shoot. Teams usually submit a list of shooters before the shootout begins, and a player who is substituted off may lose the chance to take a kick.
Common mistakes
- Assuming every soccer draw goes to a shootout, when league games often just end level.
- Forgetting that a shootout comes after the regular extra-time periods.
- Thinking goals scored in a shootout add to the match score.
