The scoreboard says 1–1, then the next graphic says a team won 4–3 on penalties. These numbers describe two different parts of the contest. The shoot-out decides the winner under the competition’s rules; its successful kicks are not added to the match’s goal total.
IFAB Law 10 places the penalty shoot-out after the match has ended. That distinction explains several moments that can look confusing if you treat the sequence as another spell of ordinary play.
Follow the pair of attempts
Teams take turns. The initial sequence can end before every planned kick is taken if one side can no longer catch the other. If the scores remain level after the initial five each, the comparison continues after equal numbers of further attempts.
For a made-up viewing example, Team A scores its next kick and leads by one, but Team B has not yet taken its corresponding attempt. The lead alone does not settle that round. Watching the number of kicks taken is as important as watching the number scored.
Keep a small two-column record if the broadcast graphic is unclear: one row per paired attempt, with a mark for scored or missed. This makes the arithmetic visible without requiring you to remember every player.
A rebound is a different situation here
During a match, a penalty can be followed by continuing play under the relevant rules. In a shoot-out, the kicker may not deliberately play the ball a second time. A dramatic follow-up tap does not turn the procedure into an open attack.
The referee determines when the kick is completed and whether an offence changes its outcome. Avoid deciding from a frozen image alone; contact, movement and the sequence of events can matter.
Check the competition’s format before expecting extra time or penalties. A drawn league fixture can remain a draw, while another competition needs a winner that day. The general laws describe permitted procedures, but they do not mean every match uses the same route.
When discussing the result, keep both figures: the match score and the shoot-out score. “Drew 1–1, won 4–3 on penalties” preserves the story more accurately than turning the evening into a fictional 5–4 match.