NEW DELHI: The ‘away goal’ will become important in this edition of the Indian Super League, as ISL organisers Football Sports Development Ltd have decided to introduce it to break a deadlock if the semifinals end in a draw after the two legs.
It bears noting that it took the ISL four editions to introduce what was initially incorporated in the rules but scrapped by the time the “league ball” first rolled in 2014.
From this edition, the team which has scored more away goals will be declared the winner.
This is a rule that is followed by major leagues all over the world, though the ISL till now depended on extra-time and later penalties to determine a winner.
The ISL, however, has a small variation wherein the visiting team does not get the benefit of an away goal if it is scored during extra-time.
According to reports, if both teams have scored an equal number of home and away goals, the game will go into an extra period and during this time, the team that scores more goals will progress. If they cannot be separated, the winner will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
