CONCACAF Champions League: is the away-goals rule used?
Europe's tournaments are now being played without the away-goals rule - but what about CONCACAF's premier club competition?
UEFA’s club competitions have now scrapped the away-goals rule, but the regulation remains in force in the CONCACAF Champions League.
However, the tournament's use of the rule comes with an exception.
Away-goals rule ditched after semi-finals
While every knockout round in the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League is to be played over two legs - including the final - the away-goals rule is to be used only as far as the semi-finals, before being dropped for the trophy decider.
Here’s what article 12.7 of CONCACAF’s rule book says about the use of away goals in the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals of the competition:
12.7.1 If the aggregate goals between the two teams are equal at the end of regulation time of the 2nd leg match, the tie-breaker criteria will be determined as follows:
12.7.1.1 Greater number of away goals scored in regulation time in the two matches;
12.7.1.2 If still tied, then kicks from the penalty spot procedure will take place as per the IFAB Laws of the Game.
Curiously, then, there is no extra time in the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals. If the teams cannot be separated either by the aggregate score or, in the event of a draw, by away goals, the tie goes straight to a penalty shootout.
This is not the case in the final, which, in addition to differing from previous rounds when it comes to CONCACAF’s application of the away-goals rule, features a 30-minute period of extra time before being decided by penalties.
Here’s what article 12.8 of CONCACAF’s rules says about the final:
12.8.1 Away goals will not hold any value in the final round.
12.8.2 If the aggregate goals between the two teams are equal at the end of regulation time of the 2nd leg match, two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played.
[…] 12.8.4 If the result is still tied after the 2nd period of extra time, then kicks from the penalty spot procedure will take place as per the IFAB Laws of the Game.
See also:
CONCACAF Champions League last 16 to be completed this week
The 2022 CONCACAF Champions League is currently at the last-16 stage, with the second legs to be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.
They will be followed by the quarter-finals in March, the semi-finals in April, and the final in late April and early May.
The CONCACAF Champions League final has reverted to a two-legged format in 2022 after being played as a single game in 2020 and 2021.
CONCACAF Champions League last-16 second legs: fixtures in full (times ET)
22 February, 10:30pm: León (MEX) vs Guastatoya (GUA) - current aggregate score: 2-0
23 February, 8:30pm: Colorado Rapids (USA) vs Comunicaciones (GUA) - 0-1
23 February. 6pm: New York City FC (USA) vs Santos de Guápiles (CRC) - 2-0
23 February, 10:30pm: UNAM (MEX) vs Saprissa (CRC) - 2-2
23 February, 8:15pm: CF Montréal (CAN) vs Santos Laguna (MEX) - 0-1
24 February, 8:30pm: Cruz Azul (MEX) vs Forge FC (CAN) - 1-0
24 February, 10:30pm: Seattle Sounders (USA) vs Motagua (HON) - 0-0
Cancelled: New England Revolution (USA) vs Cavaly (HAI) - Revolution through to quarter-finals after Cavaly withdrew