What Is a First Team to Score Bet? Meaning and Rules

What is a first team to score bet? It is a wager on which team scores the opening goal of a match. For example, if you back the home team and the home team scores in the 12th minute, your bet wins, even if the away team comes back to win 3-1.

On the other hand, the market rewards a simple read of the opening stages rather than a full-match prediction. Firstly, this guide explains the meaning and the three selections. Secondly, it covers the payout and the rules that catch people out. Finally, it compares the market with first goalscorer, BTTS and anytime goalscorer.

Last updated: November 2026

Quick Answer

• A first team to score bet wins if your chosen team scores the opening goal of the match.
• You pick Home, Away, or No Goal — the final result does not matter.
• If the match ends 0-0, the “No Goal” selection wins.
• An own goal counts for the team credited with the goal.
• The bet settles on 90 minutes plus stoppage time; extra time does not count.

What Is a First Team to Score Bet?

A first team to score bet asks one question: which side scores first? The goal can come from open play, from a header, from a penalty, or from a deflection. In short, the method does not matter.

By contrast with a full-time result bet, only the order of the first goal matters. For example, a team that scores in the 5th minute and loses 3-1 still wins this market for its backers. As a result, the market suits a match where you expect one team to start fast.

The market has three selections:

Selection	Wins when
Home	The home team scores the first goal
Away	The away team scores the first goal
No Goal	Neither team scores in 90 minutes plus stoppage time

Similarly, most bookmakers list all three selections before kick-off. That said, a small number offer only Home and Away, with no No Goal option, so check the market before you place the bet.

How First Team to Score Odds Work

The odds reflect how likely each team is to open the scoring. For example, a strong home favourite might sit at 1.80 to score first, while the away underdog sits at 3.00 and No Goal at 9.00.

In other words, the shorter the price, the more likely the bookmaker thinks that outcome is. To work out the implied chance, divide 1 by the odds. For instance, 1 divided by 1.80 gives 0.56, which is 55.6%.

Above all, remember that odds include the bookmaker’s margin, so the true chance sits slightly below the implied figure. Next, compare the price with your own read of the match.

What Is a First Team to Score Bet Payout?

The payout is simple: stake multiplied by the odds. If you stake ₦1,000 at 1.80 and your team scores first, your return is ₦1,800, so your profit is ₦800. If the other team scores first, or if the match ends 0-0, you lose the ₦1,000.

Here is the same payout at a few common prices, all for a ₦500 stake:

Odds	Return	Profit
1.50	₦750	₦250
1.80	₦900	₦400
2.00	₦1,000	₦500
2.50	₦1,250	₦750
3.00	₦1,500	₦1,000

The “No Goal” selection pays out in the same way: a ₦500 stake at 9.00 returns ₦4,500, for a profit of ₦4,000, if the match ends 0-0. In other words, No Goal pays the most because it is the least likely outcome: 9.00 implies only 11.1%.

 

What Is a First Team to Score Bet: The Rules on Own Goals and No Goal

The rules are where this market catches people out. Firstly, an own goal counts for the team credited with the goal. For example, if an away defender turns the ball into his own net, the home team is the first team to score, even though no home player touched the ball last.

Secondly, the market settles on 90 minutes plus stoppage time. For instance, a goal in the 94th minute still counts, because stoppage time is part of the 90 minutes. That said, goals in extra time and penalty shootouts do not count, unless your bookmaker states otherwise.

Finally, the market settles the moment the first goal is officially awarded.

What Happens If the Match Ends 0-0?

If neither team scores, the “No Goal” selection wins. For example, a ₦500 stake on No Goal at 9.00 returns ₦4,500 on a goalless draw.

In other words, a 0-0 finish is a loss for anyone who backed a team, not a void. The bookmaker does not refund the stake, because the market had a valid outcome. That said, on a two-way market with no No Goal selection, most bookmakers void team bets on a 0-0 finish, so check the terms before you bet.

What Is a First Team to Score Bet Compared With First Goalscorer?

The closest market is first goalscorer, but the two bets ask different questions. First goalscorer is a player market: you name the player who scores the opening goal. By contrast, first team to score is a team market: you name the team.

There is also a sharp difference on own goals. In first goalscorer, own goals do not count, so the market rolls on to the next goal scored by a named player. In first team to score, an own goal settles the market at once for the team credited with the goal. For the full comparison, read our guide to what a first goalscorer bet is.

Here is the same striker at illustrative odds in each market, all for a ₦500 stake:

Market	What you need	Odds	₦500 stake return
First team to score (home)	The home team scores first	1.80	₦900
First goalscorer (striker)	The named striker scores first	6.00	₦3,000
Anytime goalscorer (striker)	The named striker scores at any time	2.50	₦1,250

In other words, first goalscorer pays far more because it is far harder to win: 6.00 implies 16.7%, while 1.80 implies 55.6%.

What Is a First Team to Score Bet Compared With BTTS and Anytime Goalscorer?

BTTS and anytime goalscorer both look at the whole match, while a first team to score bet looks only at the opening goal. For example, a BTTS bet wins if both teams score at any point in the 90 minutes plus stoppage time. In other words, a BTTS pick can wait all match for its goals, while a first-team-to-score pick settles on the very first goal.

Anytime goalscorer is similar: it wins if your named player scores at any point, so it stays live until the final whistle. By contrast, a first team to score bet is over the moment the first goal goes in. As a result, it is the fastest of the three markets to settle.

For the full picture, read our guides to what an anytime goalscorer bet is and what both teams to score means.

How to Place a First Team to Score Bet Step by Step

Placing the bet takes less than a minute. Firstly, open a match that has not kicked off yet and find the team goals section in the pre-match markets. Secondly, check the team news, so you back a side with its first-choice attackers available. Thirdly, pick your selection — Home, Away or No Goal — and check the odds.

Fourthly, enter your stake and confirm the bet, then check the confirmation on your betting slip. Finally, watch the opening stages: the bet settles on the first goal, or on the final whistle if the match ends 0-0.

How to Pick a First Team to Score

Picking starts with the opening stages, not with the final result. For example, a team that scores early in most of its home matches is a stronger pick than the same team away from home. Next, look at the team news: a side missing its main striker is less likely to open the scoring.

Also consider the style of play: a team that presses high and wins early corners creates first-goal chances, while a team that sits deep and defends invites the other side to score first. Above all, avoid picking on reputation alone.

First Team to Score Betting Under Nigerian Law

Meanwhile, betting in Nigeria is for adults only — 18+ only. Regulation is state-led: the Supreme Court nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 on 22 November 2024, and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission framework applies only in the Federal Capital Territory. As a result, a bettor should check that a bookmaker holds a licence in the bettor’s own state, rather than assuming a site is “licensed by the NLRC” as a general rule. In addition, licensed bookmakers ask for identity checks, usually a Bank Verification Number or National Identity Number, before paying out winnings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a first team to score bet in a cup match?

It is the same bet as in a league match: it settles on 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalty shootouts do not count, unless your bookmaker states otherwise, so check the market rules first.

What happens if the first goal is an own goal?

The team credited with the goal wins the market. For example, if an away defender scores an own goal, the home team is the first team to score.

Does the team have to win the match?

No. Only the first goal matters. A team can score first and lose 3-1, and the bet still wins.

Can I cash out a first team to score bet?

That depends on your bookmaker: some offer cash out on team goal markets, while others do not offer it on this market at all.

What happens if the match is abandoned?

That depends on your bookmaker, because the rules differ on abandoned matches. Some settle on a goal already scored, while others void the bet, so check the terms before you bet.

Is a first team to score bet the same as first goalscorer?

No. First goalscorer is a player market, while first team to score is a team market. The own-goal rule also differs: own goals do not count for first goalscorer, but they count for the team credited with the goal in first team to score.

The Bottom Line
What is a first team to score bet, in one line? A wager on the team that scores the opening goal, settled the moment that goal goes in. It is the simplest goalscorer market, and it settles faster than any other. In short, pick the side you expect to start fast, remember the own-goal rule, and remember that a 0-0 finish pays the No Goal selection.

Bet Responsibly: Betting is for adults aged 18+ only. Treat it as entertainment, not as a way to make money, and only stake what you can afford to lose. If betting stops being fun, stop. For help and guidance, visit our Responsible Gambling page.