How does a penalty shootout work in the League Cup final? Tie-breaker rules for penalties
We have already seen plenty of drama in this year’s Leagues Cup. There have been big scores, stunning goals and surprise exits, all leading up to Sunday’s final between the Columbus Crew And LAFC.
The Crew and LAFC are undoubtedly two of the strongest teams in MLS, having contested the MLS Cup final last year, and they face off again with the Leagues Cup title on the line, although the rules are slightly different in this competition.
If the scores are level at the end of the regular 90 minutes plus injury time, there will be no extension to determine a winner. Instead, in the event of a tie, the The League Cup final will be decided directly on penalties.
Both teams have already faced penalty shootouts in this year’s competition, with varying degrees of success. The Crew needed a penalty shootout win against New York City FC to advance from a hard-fought quarterfinal. LAFC, meanwhile, lost to Vancouver Whitecaps in the group stage penalty shootout, but their earlier win over Club Tijuana was enough to see them through to the knockout rounds.
What happened in the 2023 League Cup final?
This year’s edition of the MLS Liga MX tournament is the second in this recently expanded format. all 47 top teams of the American and Mexican leagues participate.
Last year’s tournament was groundbreaking, and not just because of the change in format. The 2023 Leagues Cup saw Lionel Messi make his debut for Inter Miami, and his impact was immediate.
Messi scored nine goals to take struggling Miami to the final, where they faced Nashville SC. The Argentine again got on the scoresheet with a stunning individual goal, but Nashville equalized through Fafà Picault. Leonardo Campana missed a golden chance to win the game in the dying moments of the match, meaning the The 2023 League Cup final would be decided on penalties.
In a thrilling shootout, all ten players took penalties before Nashville goalkeeper Elliot Panicco missed his penalty, giving the Herons’ Drake Callender the chance to make history. Callender scored and Inter Miami won its first-ever trophy.
