Silver goal
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Silver goal is a method used in association football to decide the result of games in elimination matches which end in a draw after the end of the ordinary time. A fifteen-minute extra time period is played, and if either team is leading at the conclusion of that period that team wins the match. If the scores are level, another fifteen-minute period is played. If the scores are level after two periods of extra time, a penalty shootout decides the game.
The silver goal rules were proposed to the IFAB in 2002 by UEFA to supplement the golden goal rules introduced in 1994. In extra time, a team leading after the first fifteen minute period would win; the game would no longer stop the instant a team scored as with the golden goal rule. This change was decided after golden goal victories led to some ugly behaviour from the losing teams. The golden goal was also seen as putting excessive pressure on the referee. While it was introduced with the intention of stimulating the offensive flair of the teams, this rarely happened as the danger of conceding a goal from an opposition counter attack made teams reluctant to take risks.
The golden goal was not removed from the Laws of the Game, and as with when the golden goal was introduced, the silver goal was not made compulsory. Competitions operating extra time were able to use the golden goal, the silver goal, or neither procedure during extra time.
The first major trophy to utilise the silver goal was the 2003 UEFA Cup final between Porto and Celtic. Porto scored in the second overtime period, which meant the rule did not come into effect; however, the stalling tactics of the Portuguese after they scored has been used as an argument for golden goal. [1]
However, the silver goal also failed to please the IFAB. In February 2004 it was decided that after Euro 2004 in Portugal extra-time would return solely to the usual two 15-minute halves without any goal scoring considerations, as they were before the 1996 European Championships. At Euro 2004, the semifinal match between Greece and the Czech Republic was decided by the silver goal, when Traianos Dellas scored for Greece after a corner kick in the last two seconds of the first period of extra time. This was also the last silver goal ever, as the final game of the cup between Greece and Portugal did not reach extra time.
[edit] Trivia
Both first golden goal, and last silver goal in major tournaments were conceded by Czech Republic. First golden goal determined UEFA Euro 1996 final, where Czech Republic lost to Germany. Last silver goal sent Czech Republic out of UEFA Euro 2004 semifinal after 105th (last minute of first extra time) minute goal.
