Skip to content
← Full glossaryGame and tactics

Extra time

Extra time is an additional period of two halves of 15 minutes, played when a knockout match is level after normal time. If it is still level, the winner is decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Extra time only exists when a match has to produce a winner: cup ties, final tournaments, second legs of two-legged ties when the aggregate is level. In a league or group stage, a draw is simply a draw. It is played in two periods of 15 minutes, separated only by a change of ends, and an additional substitution is usually allowed. The « golden goal », which ended the match at the first goal scored, was scrapped in 2004. Some competitions even go straight to penalties, with no extra time.

A key point for betting: the main markets (1X2, correct score, over/under, both teams to score) are generally settled on normal time, meaning 90 minutes plus stoppage time, unless stated otherwise. Extra-time goals do not count. Only « to qualify », « to lift the trophy » or markets explicitly labelled « including extra time » take it into account. Before interpreting a market, always read its rules.

On the pitch, extra time has its own logic: fatigue opens up space, but fear of losing often breeds caution, and some teams seem happy to wait for penalties. Fresh substitutes, squad depth and the changes already made weigh heavily in those 30 minutes.

Example

Two teams at 1.3 and 1.1 expected goals: a Poisson model gives roughly a 27% chance of a draw after 90 minutes, so more than a one-in-four chance of extra time in a knockout match. If the game ends 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-1 after extra time, the 1X2 is settled as a draw and over/under on 2 goals, while team A goes through.

How Elofoot uses it

Elofoot always calculates the 1X2 and goals markets over 90 minutes, where the draw is a genuine outcome, including in knockout matches. If the score chosen by the AI analysis leads to a tie (or a level aggregate in a second leg), the scenario then states who goes through after extra time or penalties.

Frequently asked questions

How long is extra time?
Two periods of 15 minutes, 30 minutes in total, plus any stoppage time in each period.
Does a 1X2 bet include extra time?
Generally not: the 1X2 is settled on normal time (90 minutes plus stoppage time), unless the market states « including extra time ». Always check the market rules.
Does the golden goal still exist?
No. The golden goal, and then the silver goal, were scrapped in 2004: extra time is now played in full.
Is there extra time in league matches?
No. In a league or group stage, a draw is a final result. Extra time only applies to matches that must produce a qualifier or a winner.

See also

Go further

Put these concepts into practice with our AI football match prediction.

Predict a match for free