Why does it have to end with a penalty shootout?

I was apart of the crowd that witnessed the A-League's Grand Final for 2010 between the Melbourne Victory and the Sydney FC. Sydney played a very brutal game. It was a tactic that worked for them. After 12 minutes, Archie Thompson was sent off on a stretcher, and will most likely be missing 12 months with an ACL injury (saying that, Kitty Kat had ACL surgery done on both of her knees). Sydney were not visiting Melbourne for a haircut - they wanted to win the game, and do the Premier / Championship double - which was first done by Melbourne. They wanted to take the trophy back to Sydney. They did it.

After the first 45 minutes, the score was still 0-0. After 90 minutes, it was 1-1. After extra time, it was still 1-1. This is the part I hate the most. Why does it have to go to a penalty shootout? I think it facilitates a quicker result to a game, but if it is the final game of the tournament, they why does it have to end quickly? The final should be the exception, and implement the "golden goal" rule - keep playing until someone scores. First team to make a mistake, or first team to overcome fatigue wins.

It's a horrible way to loose a championship, but I don't think it's a great way to win a championship either. It really is based on luck - and when I say luck, I mean confidence of the goalkeeper and the penalty kick taker.

Well done to the Melbourne Victory for a great season of 2009 - 2010! I look forward to seeing you more often in the next season.

GO VICTORY!!