Five of biggest upsets in sports history

In Sport, winning is not a given at any certain time and while there will always be favourites - on most occasions - in any sporting code there is always room for an upset.

But some upsets are bigger than others and with that in mind, Betway has selected five of the biggest upsets in sports history:
 

Japan versus South Africa (2015 Rugby World Cup) 

 
Five years ago, Japan were not the rugby team we know today and in all fairness to the Brave Blossoms, they had already come a long way since being on the wrong end of a 145-17 loss to the All Blacks at the 1995 Rugby World Cup when they headed to England for the 2015 showpiece.

But no one could've predicted that they would beat the then two-time Rugby World Cup winners South Africa in a pulsating game in Brighton, in what is still regarded as the greatest upset in Rugby World Cup history.

With the clock winding down, Japan rolled the dice and be as it may fate was on their side as Karne Hesketh slid over to give the Asian nation a famous 34-32 win and at the time, only their second win at a World Cup tournament.
 

Ireland versus England (2011 Cricket World Cup) 

Cricket has seen its fair share of upsets over the years and Ireland were no strangers to upsets heading into the 2011 Cricket World Cup in India and Bangladesh.

While victory over England was not entirely beyond them, chasing 327 runs seemed completely out of the question. But against all odds, Ireland beat their opponents in Bangalore for the most glorious of upsets.

England won the toss and Jonathan Trott spearheaded them to a comprehensive total at the the M Chinnaswamy Stadium and having limited the Irish to 111 for five, victory seemed not too far away.

However, Kevin O'Brien had other plans and having blasted 113 from 50 balls for the fastest hundred in the tournament, he laid the foundation for  the highest successful World Cup run chase and history.
 

 

Buster Douglas versus Mike Tyson

(1991, WBA, WBC, IBF, and lineal heavyweight boxing titles.) 


 
Mike Tyson was the overwhelming favourite heading into the title fight at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on the 11th of February 1990 and rightfully so.

Tyson was dubbed the baddest man on the planet for good reason and boasting a 37-0 record, 'Iron Mike' was expected to claim a straightforward win with James 'Buster' Douglas given just a 42-to-1 shot at recording an upset.  

But that is not how history would have it as Douglas, inspired by his mother's recent passing, wrote his name in the history books with a 10th round knockout win.
 

Senegal versus France (2002 FIFA World Cup) 

France were the defending FIFA World Cup champions, the No. 1 ranked team in the world and hot favourites to defend their crown ahead of the opening match of the 2002 showpiece in South Korea and Japan. 
 
While the 1998 champions boasted an experienced unit with most of the team having won it all four years earlier and playing for the biggest clubs across Europe, Senegal were an inexperienced team at international level. 
 
But without star player Zinedine Zidane through injury, the French never pitched and with 30 minutes on the clock Papa Bouba Diop scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 win for the Africans on a memorable day in Seoul. 
 
Senegal would finish second in the group and continue the giant killing in the Round of 16 with victory over a more fancied Sweden outfit, before eventually bowing out of the competition following defeat to Turkey in the quarter-finals.  
 

Giants versus Patriots (Super Bowl XLII) 

 
The Patriots were overwhelming favourites heading into the 2008 Super Bowl at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona after recording a perfect (16-0) regular season. 
 
Two further playoff wins stretched the Patriots' record up to 18-0 ahead of their meeting with a New York Giants team who boasted a modest 10-6 regular season record. 
 
Spearheaded by the legendary Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, the Patriots looked nailed on champions, but the Giants would emerge as the ultimate party spoilers by going through arguably the greatest NFL team in history. 
 
Giants quarterback Eli Manning picked out David Tyree for his now iconic catch in what would prove to be the game-winning drive before finding Plaxico Burress in the end zone for a 17-14 win as the Patriots lost a shot at perfection.
 


For all the latest sports news, betting tips and promotions follow Betway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Download the Betway App.