United States
With the @MLS clubs entering their second legs of Champions League play you'll see a scoreline posted similar to the one I've posted here.
The reason I bring it up now is that, not long ago, I was watching a match for the first time on Fox Soccer. I don't remember who was playing but the score was 2-1 approaching '90.
The final whistle blew and shortly after, there was an extra time kick-off. I was puzzled. I had no idea what the "agg 2-3" line meant. Why, when the game was decided, were these teams still playing?
I'm no expert but, I think I've got a grasp on it, now.
So, if you've been watching the UEFA Champions League and Euro League competitions, you've seen this before. In order to advance, two teams play a total of two games against each other, one home and one away.
Definition: aggregate " in sport, the sum of two scorelines in a two-legged match"
Basically, over the course of two games, the team who scores the most goals in total, wins.
It can get a little tricky, though. In the case of a tie, the team that has scored the most away goals, is declared the victor.
Example:
The Hawks defeat the Pythons 2-1 at Python Stadium.
In the next match:
The Pythons come to Hawk Arena and win 1-0.
This leaves the aggregate:
Hawks 2-2 Pythons .
Both of the away teams won but,
The Hawks scored 2 goals on the road.
The Pythons scored 1 home and 1 away.
Both teams totaled 2 goals each but,
The Hawks win the tiebreaker.
So don't be confused by seeing 2 scorelines on your tv. The aggregate is the most important one to watch. The away goal rule only applies if it ends in a draw.
Watch the three remaining MLS clubs in the CONCACAF Champions League starting with the Seattle Sounders v Tigres tonight ( Tue 3/12) and Santos Laguna v Houston Dynamo and LA Galaxy v Herediano tomorrow night (Wed 3/13).
-@SouthwestSoccer
