How do I save a penalty?

When the computer runs up to shoot, tap the left, middle or right of the goal (or use the arrow keys) to dive. Guess the right side and you make the save. Shots right into the top corner are almost impossible to stop.

What happens if it is level after five kicks?

Just like a real shootout, it goes to sudden death. Each side takes one more kick until one scores and the other misses.

What are the real rules for penalty shootouts?

Under the Laws of the Game, the goalkeeper must stay on the goal line between the posts until the ball is kicked, with at least part of one foot on or level with the line. Each team takes five kicks, alternately, then goes to sudden death if needed.

⚽ Penalty Shootout

Score yours, save theirs. Five kicks each, then sudden death.

You

0 – 0

Computer

Your penalty: tap to stop the aim marker

Your record

Shootouts

Won

Goals

Saves

How to play

Shooting: tap to stop the moving aim marker, then tap again to choose the height. Corners are hardest to save.
Saving: tap the left, middle or right of the goal before the ball arrives (arrow keys also work).
Too high or too wide and you miss. Hit the woodwork and it bounces out.
Harder levels move the aim faster and the keeper reads more of your shots.

Want to know the real rules? Read our guide to the Laws of the Game, or test yourself with the offside quiz.

The real rules of a penalty shootout

In the Laws of the Game, a shootout is called kicks from the penalty mark. It is used when a knockout match is level after extra time. The referee tosses a coin to choose the goal, then tosses again: the winning captain decides whether their team kicks first or second.

Each team takes five kicks, alternating. If one team cannot catch up even with all its remaining kicks, the shootout ends early. If it is still level after five each, it goes to sudden death, one kick each until one team scores and the other does not.

Only players on the pitch at the end of extra time may take a kick
Every eligible player must kick before anyone takes a second kick
The goalkeeper must stay on the goal line until the ball is kicked, with at least part of one foot touching or level with the line
The kicker cannot play the ball again, so a rebound off the post or keeper cannot be scored

How to score and save more

Low shots into the corners are the hardest to save in real football and in this game. Aim close to the post but not on it: the closer you go, the bigger the risk of missing. On the harder levels the keeper reads more of your shots, so do not shoot to the same side every time.

When you are in goal, the computer picks left, middle or right at random, so every save is a one-in-three guess. It also misses roughly one kick in eight, so a shootout is never lost until the last kick.

Game FAQs

Penalty Shootout: questions

A yellow aim marker moves across the goal. Tap once to stop it where you want to shoot, then tap again to set the height. Aim for the corners to beat the goalkeeper, but go too wide or too high and you will miss.