Betis continued to dominate, and as the game wore on I felt that they were most likely to score if anything. Sure enough, with time beginning to run out Betis struck on 75 minutes. A good start to the day and the pot increased to £133.75.
Many other games that I was keen on featured early goals, so the next one up was the FA cup tie between Manchester United and Wigan. Despite changes being made, United still had a much stronger side than their Championship opponents. I was a little late getting on, and with 41 minutes, played, I took odds of 1/7.
In one of our easiest bets so far, Marouane Fellani popped up with a header just 3 minutes after the bet was placed! An easy profit of £19.11 was made and we marched upward to £152.86!
With games involving Napoli and Real Madrid this evening I was perhaps looking at one more bet If the circumstances were right. However, I then noticed what seemed to be a prime candidate in the Belgian First Division. Anderlecht were at home to mid-table Standard Liege and had the chance to go top of the league. To make things even better, Liege had a man sent off in the 2nd minute.
I checked teams - Anderlecht had a full strength side. Their home record was terrific. They had scored 29 goals in 10 home games and won 7 of those. I had noticed this game just before half time and got on at odds of 1/6.
Anderlecht had already had 6 shots on target and another 8 off target. Surely a goal would come in the second half.
The second half carried on as the first. Anderlecht dominated. I was now watching the game. There were so many near misses. Crosses coming in and players missing a connection by millimeters. Shots going wide by an inch.
You can probably guess where this is going...
Still a goal didn't come into the last 10 minutes. But so many chances, so many corners, so many free kicks. As if the football Gods weren't giving us enough of a chance, Liege had another man sent off just before 90 minutes.
There were 4 minutes of injury time. Another cross came in which was missed by a whisker by the oncoming attacker. Another shot just wide of the post. Another header being deflected behind.
I couldn't believe what was happening. This was a game in which I was so confident of. I've been nervous in so many, but this...this was a game made for goals!
But a goal never came. And whilst Liege celebrated their jammiest 0-0 draw possibly in their whole existence, I was left feeling sick. £152.86 gone. After all the hard work to build it up and just as we're making some real headway.
This was extremely tough. I couldn't have picked a more unlikely game to finish 0-0. A team playing with 10 men since the 2nd minute against a team with a full strength side who are playing to go top of their league. And then down to 9 men for the last 5 minutes. Against a team with a superb home record and whose games average over 3 goals throughout the season.
The only consolation is that I can have no regrets in picking this game. I don't feel it was a mistake. It was just one of those freak games that can happen in football and that is the problem with this challenge. Sometimes, there is just nothing that can be done despite all the research in the world.
So, for now, it's over. Maybe I'll come back and try again, but the thought of going back to the start is too much right now!
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