Namely, in the mid-1990s, during the early phase of the MLS league, traditional penalty kicks were replaced by a bizarre "shootout" system that more closely resembled hockey than soccer. Instead of a shot from the penalty spot, a player would start with the ball from about thirty meters out, having only five seconds to outwit the goalkeeper and score. This innovation was a direct attempt by Americans to make the game more dynamic and appealing to a domestic audience accustomed to fast-paced, high-scoring sports. Although such scenes are unimaginable today and seem like part of an alternate history, they were at the core of the league's identity in a country that just three decades ago was only learning to love soccer in its own way. Fortunately for purists worldwide, this experiment was retired in 1999, leaving behind iconic video clips that still astonish new generations of fans.