The Soccer Tournament (TST) is set for its 2025 return, building on the success of its 2023 and 2024 editions. This widely acclaimed 7v7 football event is back for a third consecutive year, promising even more scale, boldness, and competitive talent.
Put simply, Target Score Time is an innovative rule designed to ensure each match concludes with a decisive, game-winning goal. This rule, made famous by TST, alters the usual structure of extra time, boosting excitement for both players and spectators. Here’s an explanation of what Target Score Time is, how it functions, and why it has become a key characteristic of this 7v7 football tournament.
What is Target Score Time?
Target Score Time is a unique rule that guarantees every TST game finishes with a deciding goal. Once the referee blows the final whistle at the end of regulation play, a specific Target Score is established. This score is calculated by taking the score of the team currently in the lead and adding one goal. For instance, if the score is 3-2 when regular time expires, the Target Score will be 4. The game then moves into an untimed final phase called Target Score Time, continuing until one side achieves this target score.
Unlike standard extra time periods or penalty shootouts, this system removes the clock, shifting all focus onto scoring the winning goal. Play doesn`t stop until one team reaches the Target Score, guaranteeing a dramatic and high-stakes conclusion every time.
How Target Score Time Works in TST
During Target Score Time, there is no timer running. Teams play continuously until one hits the Target Score, regardless of the duration. To intensify the game and create more open space, one player from each team is removed from the field every three minutes during this stage. This process creates more room, facilitates faster transitions, and leads to increased scoring opportunities as the match progresses. The reduction in players increases pressure and excitement, frequently resulting in thrilling finishes and spectacular goals.
This approach encourages attacking football and prevents matches from ending in an anticlimax. There are no ties, no games decided solely by penalties, and no possibility of teams simply running down the clock. Every game concludes with a decisive goal that triggers either celebration or disappointment. It also benefits the team leading at the end of regulation, as their target score is only one goal higher, providing them a more direct route to victory.
Rupert Caldwell