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EspañolGOAL DIFFERENCE
In sports such as ice hockey and football (soccer), 'goal difference' (that is, goals scored minus goals conceded) is often the first tiebreaker used to rank teams which finish a league competition with an equal number of points.
If a team's points and goal difference are equal, then often 'goals scored' is used as a second tiebreaker, with the team scoring the most goals winning. Alternative tiebreakers that may be used include looking at the head-to-head results between sides, playing a playoff, or the drawing of lots.
'Goal average' is a different scheme that predated goal difference. Using the goal average scheme the number of goals scored is divided by the number of goals conceded. Goal difference replaced goal average in the 1970 World Cup finals and from 1976-1977 season in the English Football League. Goal average is also used as the tiebreaker in Australian rules football where it is referred to as "percentage". It is calculated as points scored for divided by points scored against multiplied by 100.
The different schemas can lead to strikingly different results. Consider the result of the following matches:
----
----
Under goal average, Team A would triumph:
However, under goal difference, Team B would triumph:
Goal average was replaced by goal difference due to the former's encouragement of lower-scoring games. A team that scores 70 while allowing 40 would have a lesser goal average (1.750) versus another team that scores 69 while allowing 39 (1.769). In the most extreme case, a team that drew every game but one with a 0-0 scoreline but won the remaining game 1-0 would have an infinitely large goal average, defeating on tiebreaker a team that drew every game but one with a 0-0 scoreline, but won the remaining game 100-1 (as this team's goal average would be 'only' 100).
It's notable, though that teams who've scored fewer than they've conceded can improve their goal average with a score draw. For example, a team with 15 for and 30 against has a goal difference of 0.5, but a 2-2 draw would increase their goal average to 0.53.
Arsenal Football Club famously won on goals scored in the English Football League season of 1988-1989, with a 2-0 victory over Liverpool FC on the last day of the season, the second and decisive goal being scored in injury time. Arsenal and Liverpool finished equal on points and goal difference, but with Arsenal ahead 73 to 65 on goals scored.
Had the league still been decided on goal average, Liverpool would have been the winners 2.321 to 2.028.
If a team's points and goal difference are equal, then often 'goals scored' is used as a second tiebreaker, with the team scoring the most goals winning. Alternative tiebreakers that may be used include looking at the head-to-head results between sides, playing a playoff, or the drawing of lots.
'Goal average' is a different scheme that predated goal difference. Using the goal average scheme the number of goals scored is divided by the number of goals conceded. Goal difference replaced goal average in the 1970 World Cup finals and from 1976-1977 season in the English Football League. Goal average is also used as the tiebreaker in Australian rules football where it is referred to as "percentage". It is calculated as points scored for divided by points scored against multiplied by 100.
| Contents |
| Goal difference ''v.'' goal average |
| Real Examples |
Goal difference ''v.'' goal average
The different schemas can lead to strikingly different results. Consider the result of the following matches:
----
----
Under goal average, Team A would triumph:
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team A | '3' | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Team B | '3' | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Team C | '3' | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0.1667 |
However, under goal difference, Team B would triumph:
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team B | '3' | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 |
| Team A | '3' | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | +2 |
| Team C | '3' | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -5 |
Goal average was replaced by goal difference due to the former's encouragement of lower-scoring games. A team that scores 70 while allowing 40 would have a lesser goal average (1.750) versus another team that scores 69 while allowing 39 (1.769). In the most extreme case, a team that drew every game but one with a 0-0 scoreline but won the remaining game 1-0 would have an infinitely large goal average, defeating on tiebreaker a team that drew every game but one with a 0-0 scoreline, but won the remaining game 100-1 (as this team's goal average would be 'only' 100).
It's notable, though that teams who've scored fewer than they've conceded can improve their goal average with a score draw. For example, a team with 15 for and 30 against has a goal difference of 0.5, but a 2-2 draw would increase their goal average to 0.53.
Real Examples
Arsenal Football Club famously won on goals scored in the English Football League season of 1988-1989, with a 2-0 victory over Liverpool FC on the last day of the season, the second and decisive goal being scored in injury time. Arsenal and Liverpool finished equal on points and goal difference, but with Arsenal ahead 73 to 65 on goals scored.
Had the league still been decided on goal average, Liverpool would have been the winners 2.321 to 2.028.
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