Whether soccer or hockey, the jury is still out about the fairness of using penalty shootouts to decide games. The excitement factor is not in question, as the Salt Lake versus Galaxy game attested to. Both sides missed penalties and the opposing goalies pulled out a couple of great saves. The latter feat made the list of USA TODAY's "10 Hardest Things to Do in Sports List" in 2003.
But as Landon Donovan's brutal miss displayed, the high stress of penalty shootouts is a valid gauge of a player's ability under pressure. But is it a true barometer of the team's ability? That is the question that critics can't agree on.
Regardless, the penalty shootout is used in almost every major soccer championship as a way to decide games.
Two World Cup Champions Decided on Penalty Kicks
1994 World Cup USA was the first final decided on penalty kicks. Pitting Brazil against Italy, Brazil persevered after a 0-0 match that couldn't be decided after 120 minutes of open play. The penalty shootout win gave Brazil their first title since 1970.
In the 2006 World Cup Germany, all five Italian penalty takers scored from the spot in the shootout to win Italy their fourth Jules Rimet Trophy. Their French opponents, missing one of the great penalty takers, Zinedine Zidane who was sent off in extra time, could not match the Italians precision. Overall, critics and fans agreed that for their play over the course of the tournament Italy deserved the win.
The competition's first shootout took place after a memorable semi-final battle between Germany and France. Germany won that shootout, and then went on to lose the final to Italy in the 1982 World Cup Spain.
2008 UEFA Champions League Final Memorable
Manchester United won the Champions League in 2008 after beating Chelsea 6-5 in a dramatic penalty shootout after an equally drama-filled game.
Phil McNulty for BBC Sport, "Man Utd earn dramatic Euro glory", reported that, 'Chelsea captain Terry had to be consoled by boss Avram Grant as he broke down in tears after missing the penalty that would have given his side the trophy.'
The pressure not only got to John Terry, but also Cristiano Ronaldo and Nicolas Anelka, whose shot was saved by United goalkeeper Van der Sar to win the trophy for Manchester United.
United's win on penalties was the sixth Champions League final to be decided in a shootout since the Champions League was formed in 1992/93. Previously it had been titled the European Cup, a straightforward knockout tournament, without the current league set up.
Second Time MLS Cup Won in Shootout
Real Salt Lake's victory was the second time in the Cup's fourteen year history that a team won on penalties. The Houston Dynamo beat the New England Revolution 4-3 in a shootout in 2006 after a similar 1-1 score line after extra time.
The debate will go on about whether penalty shootouts are the way to decide these big games. If fan enjoyment is the ultimate goal then the status quo should be maintained.
Lorah Delaney - Lorah is a native of Vancouver, British Columbia. She has a degree in Physical Education from the University of British Columbia and a ...
