The Play-In at the Apertura 2023 has arrived, marking a critical stage in Mexican football. This replacement copy is designed to address a rejection and make the competition tougher, shaping the last two spots for quarterfinals in matches that feel like do or die.
Because the clubs taking part bring high quality, the Play-In adopts a format reminiscent of the NBA in the United States, offering teams up to two chances to advance to the quarterfinals. This setup has fans curious about what would happen if the aggregate over ninety minutes does not produce a winner.
Here is a clear explanation of how ties are resolved and how the rules would apply if parity persists after regular time.
In this update, GOAL explains the tiebreaker and how the determination would unfold when the match ends level on goals.
What happens during the play-in in the event of a tie?
The decisive factor is the number of goals scored in the match. If the ninety minutes end with a draw in goals, a penalty shootout takes place following the procedure laid out in Article 22 of the MX League competition rules until a winner is declared. This approach ensures a clear result and keeps the Play-In competitive and exciting for supporters across Canada, the United States, and beyond. The method reflects a strong preference for a definitive outcome over multiple extra time periods.
The pathway to victory hinges on spot kicks when regulation time is tied. Losers and winners alike know that the shootout is a high-stakes moment that can tilt the balance of a season in a single afternoon.
Source attribution: Goal