It is the end for one of football’s most contentious rules.
UEFA has finally decided to abolish the use of away goals in European club competition.
Photo via Bleacher Report
The rule had been first introduced in 1965 to decide on drawn two-legged games, by favouring the team that scored the most goals away from home.
UEFA, however, says it is time for a shakeup because over the years, there has been a decline in the advantage enjoyed by the home team.
The change will apply to the Champions League, Europa League and the Europa Conference League from next season.
While the away goals rule is one of those love-it-or-hate-it aspects of the game, even the harshest critic has to admit that it has led to some pretty dramatic moments over the years.
To mark the end of away goals, let us take a look at five Champions League moments from the past where the rule left us on the edge of our seats.
Photo via SkySports
2019 - Ajax vs Tottenham (W)
1st leg: Tottenham 0-1 Ajax
2nd leg: Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Aggregate: 3-3
Ajax had won the first leg of this semifinal 1-0 in London and put themselves in an even stronger position with two more goals in the second leg in Amsterdam.
Lucas Moura then responded for Spurs with a hattrick …including a dramatic 95th minute winner to win 3-2.
It leveled the tie 3-3 on aggregate and sent Tottenham into the final on away goals.
Photo via The Telegraph
2009 - Chelsea vs Barcelona (W)
1st leg: Barcelona 0-0 Chelsea
2nd leg: Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona
Aggregate: 1-1
The first leg of this semifinal tie at the Nou Camp had ended goalless.
The Blues then went ahead thru a Michael Essien strike in the return leg at Stamford Bridge, but were left on the receiving end of several highly-contentious decisions by the referee…who waved away four penalty appeals.
Andres Iniesta then struck late for Barca, to take the Catalan club through on away goals with the tie level at 1-1 on aggregate.
Photo via Getty Images
2018 - Roma (W) vs Barcelona
1st leg: Barcelona 4-1 Roma
2nd leg: Roma 3-0 Barcelona
Aggregate 4-4
Barcelona thought they were in the clear after a 4-1 win in the first leg of this quarterfinal at the Nou Camp.
The Serie A club, however, refused to give up…and blasted three goals past Barca in the return leg to make it 4-4 on aggregate, with the away goals rule favouring Roma.
Photo via Reuters
2019 - Man United (W) vs PSG
1st leg: Man United 0-2 PSG
2nd leg: PSG 1-3 Man United
Aggregate 3-3
One of United’s finest victories, that would not have been possible without the away goals rule.
PSG put themselves firmly in the driver’s seat of this last-16 tie with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford in the first leg.
United, however, responded with a 3-1 win of their own in Paris… with an injury-time Marcus Rashford penalty leveling the tie at 3-3 on aggregate to help the Red Devils advance.
Photo via SB Nation
2007 - Bayern Munich (W) vs Real Madrid
1st leg: Real Madrid 3-2 Bayern Munich
2nd leg: Bayern Munich 2-1 Real Madrid
Aggregate 4-4
Madrid recorded a 3-2 win in the first leg of this highly-entertaining last-16 tie at the Bernebeau.
Bayern responded with a 2-1 victory of their own in Munich to level the tie at 4-4 on aggregate.
But because the German club scored twice in Madrid (versus Real’s one goal in Bavaria) it was Bayern who progressed to the next round.
By: Nicholas Darren John
