Beginner’s Guide to First Goal and Last Goal Betting

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Beginner’s Guide to First Goal and Last Goal Betting

What is a First Goal/Last Goal bet? How much do you know about this type of wager? Is it easy to play? In this guide, Wintips will explain everything you need to know about betting on the first and last goals in a football match.

If you’ve never placed a First or Last Goal bet before, be sure to read this guide thoroughly before jumping in.

What Is a First Goal/Last Goal Bet?

The First Goal/Last Goal bet is considered a prop bet (or side bet) in football betting. Reputable bookmakers include it in their offerings to add variety and novelty to the betting experience. Although it’s not among the most popular mainstream bet types, the odds for this market are typically very high at top football-focused betting site for football.

This means that if you win a First or Last Goal bet, the payout can be significant.

In essence, this bet is a prediction on which team will score the first or the last goal in a match. It works like this:

First Goal Bet: Predict which team will score the opening goal of the match.

Last Goal Bet: Predict which team will score the final goal of the match.

This bet is fairly simple to understand and play, and since there are usually just two teams to choose from, your chance of winning is roughly 50%. That’s why, despite being a side bet, it remains attractive—especially with its high odds.

This market can be split into two formats:

First Half Only

Full Match

In addition to betting on a team to score first or last, you can also choose the "No Goal" option, which means predicting that the match will end in a 0–0 draw with no goals scored.

How to Read the First/Last Goal Bet

Start by reviewing the odds table provided by the bookmaker. Once you select a match, you need to understand how to interpret the odds for the First and Last Goal market.

Every match includes a home team and an away team, and you’ll find betting options for both teams as well as the "No Goal" outcome.

Here’s what the abbreviations typically mean:

HF – Home team to score the First Goal

HL – Home team to score the Last Goal

AF – Away team to score the First Goal

AL – Away team to score the Last Goal

Reputable bookmakers will display the odds clearly next to each option.

There's also an additional option:

No Goal – Neither team scores, and the match ends 0–0.

Basic Rules for First/Last Goal Betting

Bookmakers often attach specific rules to First and Last Goal bets to ensure fairness:

Own Goals: If the first goal of the match is an own goal, the credit is awarded to the opposing team for betting purposes.

Match Abandonment (After a Goal Is Scored): If the match is interrupted or abandoned but a goal has already been scored, the bet remains valid.

Match Abandonment (No Goal Scored): If no goals have been scored and the match is abandoned, all First/Last Goal bets are voided and refunded.

Winnings from this bet are calculated as:

Winnings = Stake × Odds for selected team (First or Last Goal)

Example:
Match: Liverpool vs Watford (EPL)

If Liverpool scores the first goal and you placed a First Goal bet on Liverpool at odds of 1.10, you win that amount.

If Watford scores the last goal and you bet on them for the Last Goal at odds of 5.50, you win accordingly.

Tips When Placing First/Last Goal Bets

This type of bet typically offers high payouts, so if you plan to give it a try, keep these key points in mind:

Choose the right matches: Focus on games where there’s a noticeable difference in quality or form between the two teams.

Analyze starting lineups, formations, and tactics: See which side is more likely to dominate or create chances.

Prepare accurate pre-match analysis: Don’t skip important data or team news—every detail matters.

Understand how to read odds: Know how to interpret bookmaker odds for this market to identify value.

That wraps up everything you need to know about First and Last Goal betting. If this sounds like an exciting market to you, find a trustworthy number 17 players in football and give it a try. Good luck!