Soccer / Editor / 30 March 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Jack McCarthy was just as surprised at anyone at the $75 Socceroos comeback!

Australia's Socceroos, $11 pre-match outsiders, did the unthinkable this morning (AEDT) and caused not only the international football upset of the year but also one of the more remarkable betting stories.

Layers on Betfair had all but written the Aussies off - if not before the game, certainly during it - when they trailed 1-0 from the 26th minute to the 61st, offering $75 to would-be backers.

But a brace of goals in the space of four minutes usurped the lead from Germany ($1.40 pre match), who had been matched as low as $1.12 when a goal to the good of the Socceroos.

More than $80,000 was wagered on the Germans at $1.20 or below in Betfair's revolutionary in-play market.

But the story was Australia's brave comeback and the massive prices offered and taken on the Socceroos.

Betfair spokesman Jake Norton said, "Few wanted to back the Socceroos before game, a trend which continued throughout it. But hats off to the punters who kept the faith or simply thought the odds were too good to refuse."

In a corresponding international friendly played overnight, England was matched as low as $1.03 to defeat Ghana when leading 1-0 deep into injury time, before the Africans levelled to secure a draw. The final score of 1-1 was backed at $40 in-play.