re: Away goals rule

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Before the rule was put in place, the away team always bunkered and never attacked. This gives some incentive for the away team to attack, which opens up the game a bit.

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This is the main (and best) reason. It makes for more entertaining games.

But also, what are the other options? Penalties are exciting but don't really represent the game itself very well. It's not too far removed from settling a tied basketball game with a free throw competition.

And just having a sudden death overtime (like Americans who bring this up are used to) doesn't work either because of the nature of the sport. With scoring at a premium combined with the high aerobic nature of the game you'd see these overtimes become really unwatchable, really fast. Teams would just hunker down and wait for the other side to tire out. It would go on forever and be the least exciting soccer imaginable. Eventually players would be cramping up all over the place and it would descend into farce.

The away goal rule is the perfect solution. It maintains the integrity of the competition and at the same time encourages entertaining play.