In what may amount to a reshaping of the league or a circling of the wagons, MLS has taken a step in the right direction. It is aiming to get back the people who are already fans of the game rather than pander to some ideas the league originally thought would attract new fans to the game. Among those ideas was the abandonment of the shootout as a means to decide matches. The system was devised by the old North American Soccer League as a means of playing into the mentality that there needs to be a winner and a loser in a game. The game is played win, lose, or draw all over the planet from the best leagues in Europe to your local recreational league.
Ties are a part of the game and nothing to fear.
This is a reasonable compromise, because draws will stand if no one scores in those two OTs. The standard three points for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss also will be implemented in 2000. They needed to have the game that they love, watch, and play delivered. Another positive change the league has planned is to allow the clock to count up and the official to keep the official match time on the field. MLS Cup '99 gave the Foxboro fans a chance to see the familiar system in action.