Biggest upset ever?

[Cymbols]

Bradford vs Chelsea the other year is probably up there.

TJ Dillashaw vs Renan Barao 1 was an upset, but not so much seeing how he smashed him again in the rematch.

Costa Rica getting out of the group of death at the World Cup and almost beating Holland in the Quarters. 

Really enjoyed the rugby today as an aside. 

[=BK=]

I'm not into 99% of sports. When I think of an upset the thing that comes to mind is Buster Douglas KO'ing Tyson. Decided to look on wiki to see reactions and such

 

" The Mirage Casino in Las Vegas, the only Las Vegas casino to make odds on the fight (all others declining to do so as they considered the fight such a foregone conclusion), had Douglas as a 42-to-1 underdog for the fight, making his victory, in commentator Jim Lampley's words, "Let's go ahead and call it. The biggest upset in the history of heavyweight championship fights!""

Edited September 20, 2015 by Kirkland

[MDK]

Orient beating Wales

[Noah]

When viperlike got banned.

That was very upsetting.

[GhostMachine]

I still argue that Douglas over Tyson wasn't as much of an upset as it was flat out showing that Tyson was overrated.

[Bobfoc]

I still argue that Douglas over Tyson wasn't as much of an upset as it was flat out showing that Tyson was overrated.

I half-agree with this. Hindsight shows that Tyson struggled when he was facing opponents who didn't simply run at him and let him flatten them, but you also have to remember that, in a business-driven sport like boxing, perception is more important than reality. At the time, the perception was that Tyson was an invincible wrecking machine, and Douglas was what appeared to be a run-of-the-mill journeyman.

Yes, Tyson's shortcomings were exposed on a few occasions later in his career, but in 1990, seeing Douglas stand up to him, pick him off with some inside shots on the counter and then come off the canvas to knock Tyson out when it appeared that Tyson might be beginning to finally assert his dominance, was a monumental story that made a huge impact in the public domain. As much as one can look at Tyson's lack of focus twenty-five years later, it's important to remember how big the moment was when the immortal champion was dethroned by the plucky underdog, and it's that narrative that give it the status it has in sporting history.

[Liam]

Having watched the progression of the Japanese rugby team since I moved out there in 2008, it's not as big a shock as it first seems to European/Southern Hemisphere fans.

It's definitely a shock, but Japan have become a legit team over the last few years.

They are a legit team who have lost to Tonga, Fiji and, most importantly, the US this year. If you stretch it back a year, they lost to Georgia and only just about beat Romania. Whilst all these matches have been close, they were generally getting beaten by the clear second/third tier teams in Rugby. To win your first RWC match in 24 years, beating the team ranked 3rd in the world, is just on a different level.

Very rarely do these type of match end up being anything more than processional for the big teams.

[Jimmy]

@Lineker, have you got a favourite cupset? 

[King Ellis]

Don't encourage him. :/

[Lineker]

Wrexham beating Arsenal  

[MDK]

Are we really going to overlook Orient beating Wales?

[9 to 5]

@Lineker, have you got a favourite cupset? 

No more funding Jimmy's movies, it is turning him into a monster. :@

[Pogue Mahone]

Are we really going to overlook Orient beating Wales?

Yes - on account Wales were on par with Leyton Orient in 1996.

[MDK]

Are we really going to overlook Orient beating Wales?

Yes - on account Wales were on par with Leyton Orient in 1996.

I can't tell if that is a backhanded compliment or not

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Having watched the progression of the Japanese rugby team since I moved out there in 2008, it's not as big a shock as it first seems to European/Southern Hemisphere fans.

It's definitely a shock, but Japan have become a legit team over the last few years.

They are a legit team who have lost to Tonga, Fiji and, most importantly, the US this year. If you stretch it back a year, they lost to Georgia and only just about beat Romania. Whilst all these matches have been close, they were generally getting beaten by the clear second/third tier teams in Rugby. To win your first RWC match in 24 years, beating the team ranked 3rd in the world, is just on a different level.

Very rarely do these type of match end up being anything more than processional for the big teams.

 

That's why the last Cricket World Cup was great, with Afghanistan and Ireland picking up wins.

Anyway, England actually winning a penalty shoot-out when we beat Spain at Euro '96.

[MDK]

Having watched the progression of the Japanese rugby team since I moved out there in 2008, it's not as big a shock as it first seems to European/Southern Hemisphere fans.

It's definitely a shock, but Japan have become a legit team over the last few years.

They are a legit team who have lost to Tonga, Fiji and, most importantly, the US this year. If you stretch it back a year, they lost to Georgia and only just about beat Romania. Whilst all these matches have been close, they were generally getting beaten by the clear second/third tier teams in Rugby. To win your first RWC match in 24 years, beating the team ranked 3rd in the world, is just on a different level.

Very rarely do these type of match end up being anything more than processional for the big teams.

 

 

That's why the last Cricket World Cup was great, with Afghanistan and Ireland picking up wins.

We gave the world Football, Rugby and Cricket. The least those bastards could do is let us win of the bloody things.

[MDK]

Having watched the progression of the Japanese rugby team since I moved out there in 2008, it's not as big a shock as it first seems to European/Southern Hemisphere fans.

It's definitely a shock, but Japan have become a legit team over the last few years.

They are a legit team who have lost to Tonga, Fiji and, most importantly, the US this year. If you stretch it back a year, they lost to Georgia and only just about beat Romania. Whilst all these matches have been close, they were generally getting beaten by the clear second/third tier teams in Rugby. To win your first RWC match in 24 years, beating the team ranked 3rd in the world, is just on a different level.

Very rarely do these type of match end up being anything more than processional for the big teams.

 

 

That's why the last Cricket World Cup was great, with Afghanistan and Ireland picking up wins.

Anyway, England actually winning a penalty shoot-out when we beat Spain at Euro '96.

Stuart Pearce and the exorcism of his demons. Gets me every time.

[Matt]

Sunderland's FA Cup final win.... I forget who they played  

Third division Leeds beating champions of England (Europe) Man Utd at Old Trafford, giving Fergie his first ever 3rd round FA Cup defeat is my personal favourite though.

[Pogue Mahone]

Cardiff City vs. Leeds FA Cup 3rd Round 2002

Personally this is the biggest upset. As far as I can remember Leeds were top of the Premiership at that point and Cardiff were knocking about in League Two.

 

Next to that is probably this........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-wj_-RrqJk

Next 

[EddieG]

Ireland beating England at the Cricket World Cup (Not a good example but let us all remember anyway)

Or how about Holland beating England at the Cricket World Cup?