MLS fans who also follow the UEFA Champions League will have a familar experience on their hands when the Conference Semifinals kick-off this weekend.
For the first time in League history, MLS will use the away goals rule as the first tiebreaker in deciding two-legged aggregate series.
For those unfamiliar with the two-legged aggregate series and how the away goals rule works, here's an explanation: Columbus and New England will play two matches in the Conference Semifinals. The total goals for each club over the two matches will be added up, with the most goals winning. In other words, margin of victory matters.
Here's where the away goals part comes in: if, after the two matches, the clubs are level, the first tiebreaker is the total number of away goals scored. In other words, if the Crew and Revs tie 0-0 in Columbus and then 1-1 in Foxborough, the Black & Gold would advance by virtue of having more away goals.
If away goals are also level after the second match, then the two teams will immediately progress to extra time and penalty kicks, if necessary. Away goals do not count in extra time, meaning that if both teams score in the bonus 30 minutes, it does not matter who is the away team and penalty kicks will follow.
The exact wording from the rulebook is below:
"The four Conference Semifinals will be decided by two-game aggregate series, with the lower seed hosting the first leg and the higher seed hosting the second leg. If the aggregate score is tied after 180 minutes of play, the away goals rule will apply so as to be consistent with CONCACAF and FIFA practice. If the series remains tied, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary. The away goals tiebreaker will not apply to overtime in the second leg of any two-legged playoff series.
"The two Conference Championships will be decided by a two-game aggregate series, with the lower seed hosting the first leg and the higher seed hosting the second leg. If the aggregate score is tied after 180 minutes of play, the away goals rule will apply so as to be consistent with CONCACAF and FIFA practice. If the series remains tied, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary. The away goals tiebreaker will not apply to overtime in the second leg of any two-legged playoff series."
