How a penalty shootout works

Each team takes five penalties, alternately, and the side that scores more wins. If they are still level after five each, the kicks go on one pair at a time until one side scores and the other misses. On Score My Match a shootout is offered at the final whistle, only when the scores are level.

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Useful for turf regulars and office tournaments.

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Level at the whistle. Five kicks each.

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6 points

In short

  • Five kicks eachThe teams take five penalties each, in turn, and the side that scores more wins.
  • It can end earlyOnce one side cannot be caught it is over: three up with two kicks left is decided.
  • Then sudden deathLevel after five each, the kicks go on in pairs until one side scores and the other misses.
  • The score stays levelA 2-2 match won on penalties is still 2-2, with the shootout tally beside it.
  • Offered only when levelAt full time a level match offers Settle on penalties →, and no other match does.
  • Confirm the winnerWhen it is decided, tap Confirm result →, or Reopen penalties if it was ended too soon.
Five kicks each

The rules

A settles a match that has to have a winner and ended level. Each team takes five penalties, taking turns, from the penalty spot against the other team's goalkeeper. The side that scores more wins.

It can end early: three up with two kicks left, the other side cannot catch up. Still level after five each, it becomes sudden death, one kick each at a time, until one side scores and the other misses.

The match score does not change. A match that ends 2-2 and is won on penalties is still 2-2, with the shootout tally beside it.

Kick by kick

Score one

  1. Finish the match level

    At full time, a level match offers Settle on penalties →, and Play extra time before it if your competition plays extra time first. A match that is not level offers neither.

  2. Record each kick

    Tap Scored or Missed under the side that took it. Once the first kick sets the order, only the side whose turn it is can kick, and the tally is worked out from the kicks. The taker's name is asked afterwards, the same way a goal's scorer is, and Undo takes back the newest kick.

  3. Confirm the winner

    The shootout never ends on its own. The moment one side cannot be caught, the card says who won and offers Confirm result →. Ended it too soon? Reopen penalties, and Undo takes back the kick that decided it.

Need to know

Questions people ask

About penalty shootouts.

Does a shootout change the score?

No. The match score stays level, and the shootout is its own tally beside it.

Can a shootout end before five kicks each?

Yes, once one side cannot be caught. Three up with two to take is over.

I finished the shootout by mistake. Can I go back?

Yes. Tap Reopen penalties at full time, and Undo takes back the kick that decided it.

What else it does for you

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A shootout is offered when a match ends level.

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