Goal

What is a Goal in Soccer?

A goal is awarded when the ball completely crosses over the goal line and falls inside of the goal frame at either end of the pitch.

The rules of a goal are very simple in soccer; however there are a few factors for attacking teams to take into account when trying to score a goal.

They are:

  • Firstly, is the fact that the attacking team has a full team of 11 players in front of them and must use their skill and tactics to try and successfully score a goal.
  • Secondly, for a goal to be awarded the full ball must cross the goal line of the defending team. This is more difficult than it is sounds as if the ball hasn’t fully crossed the goal line by centimeters or even millimeters, no goal is awarded. Nowadays with the introduction of VAR, this factor cannot be argued as the technology can prove these measurements.
  • Finally, even if the full ball enters the goal frame into the net a goal can be disallowed. This is usually because of an offense being caused by the goal-scoring player or a fellow teammate. The most common offenses committed for goals to be disallowed are if in the lead up there is either an offside, handball from an attacking player, or foul on a defender or goalkeeper. In this case, a free kick is awarded to the defending team.

What is awarded if a goal is scored?

In Soccer every time the ball fully crosses the line, one successful goal is added to the scoreline and the team with the most goals at the end of the match wins.

In league games:

  • The team with the most goals after 90 minutes (the winning team) are awarded 3 points.
  • If both teams finish the 90 minutes with the same amount of goals then each team is awarded 1 point.
  • The team with the least goals after 90 minutes (the losing team) are awarded 0 points.

However in tournament football:

  • The team with the most goals after 90 minutes (the winning team) into the next stage of the competition.
    If both teams finish the 90 minutes with the same amount of goals then extra-time and a penalty shootout could be needed to find a winner.
    The team with the least goals after 90 minutes (the losing team) are out of the competition.