This type of bet is also referred to as first team to score, first goal or first to score. Punters are required to predict the team that will score the first goal in a designated match, within the 90 minutes of official play, with the option to place your wager on “No Goals”. It is considered as one of the most reliable goal bets in the premier league, with about 80% of bets being paid out in previous seasons.

Team to Score First Betting Market Example

Screenshot from Ladbrokes.com

During the settlement of bets, bookies consider own goals in favour of the team that is accredited with the score. For instance, in a match of Manchester City vs. Everton, if Everton scores an own goal so that the score becomes 1-0, then the team to score first is Manchester City, and all bets placed on Everton and “no goals” selections lose.

Suggested bookmakers for team to score first betting

Online Bookmakers	Bookmaker's Promotion	Amount	Bet Now
	Open Account Offer Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.	£50	Bet now
	Bet £10 and get £30 in free bets New online customers only, min £10/ €10 stake, win only, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 3 X £10/€10, 30 day expiry, free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply.	£30	Bet now
	Welcome Offer - Bet £10 Get £30 New 18+ UK customers. Deposit & place bet on sports at a minimum of £10 in one bet transaction at evens (2.0)+ within 7 days of registering. £30 paid in Free Bets within 10 hours of bet settlement, expires 7-days after issue. E-Wallet & Prepaid Card restrictions apply. Your first bet must be settled within 7 days of registration. Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&C's apply.	£30	Bet now
	£30 Matched Free Bet If Your First Acca Loses + 50 Free Spins New UK customers only. Min Stake: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football or Horse Racing multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza (£0.10 per spin) credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Debit Card deposit only (exclusions apply). This offer is valid 7 days from the new account being registered. 18+ BeGambleAware.o	£30	Bet now

The high percentage of paid out games implies that the odds for the team to score first betting are very low. Like in the match mentioned above, the odds offered for Man City to score first can be 1 /2, Everton to score first can be 15/8, and no goals 10/1. The percentage of scoreless matches is relatively low; hence, the higher odds for no goal selection.

One of the advantages of this type of bet is that all bets are considered valid, even if the match is abandoned later, as long as this happens after the first goal has been scored. Conversely, all bets are considered void if the match is abandoned before any team has scored.

You can increase your chances of selecting a winning option by assessing the present form of different matches. While statistics play a vital role in determining the odds, factors such as team spirit, injuries, team management, new players, and complexity of the game can significantly influence the outcome of a match. That said, teams like Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Man City have been revealed to score first in about 70% of their home games in previous premier league matches.