Lucky football fan turns £2 bet into £505k after correctly predicting 18 games

You always need a bit of luck to seal a winning bet.

But one punter took that to a whole new level on Saturday, turning a £2 flutter into a cool half-a-million pounds.

To make things even sweeter, the winning accumulator was only sealed thanks to a staggering four goals inside stoppage time.

The plucky punter correctly predicted the correct match outcomes across a whopping 18 games in League One, League Two and international friendlies over the weekend. And there was plenty of late drama before the 252,991-1 shot eventually came home.

As if Salford having to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Walsall wasn't enough, goals in the 95th minute for both Colchester (v Tranmere) and Mansfield ensured the bet was still alive after the 3pm kick-offs (with the latter having been 1-0 down at half-time away at Oldham).

The lucky punter's attentions then turned to the international fixtures on Saturday teatime, including an England comeback against Switzerland and relatively comfortable wins for Qatar, the Netherlands and Germany.

But the Ladbrokes customer would've no doubt had one eye on Spain v Albania, where the hosts took the lead late on but were then stunned by a shock equaliser in the 85th minute from Albania.

However second-half sub Dani Olmo found the net in spectacular fashion in the 90th minute to steal the win and keep the ambitious acca up and running.

Spain's late winner looked to count for nothing, however, as Mozambique found a 90th minute equaliser away at Mauritania and the bet was seemingly set to fall at the final hurdle.

But up stepped Lamine Ba for the hosts, bagging a 92nd minute winner for Mauritania to steal a win and turn £2 into a staggering £505,984.88.

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: "Quite simply, we've never seen anything like this.

"Our plucky punter must not have any fingernails left after yesterday's late drama. Turning two quid into half a million... it might just be the best winning acca story of all-time!"

Winning bet slip in full (odds)

Spain to beat Albania - 2/11

Netherlands to beat Denmark - 10/11

Qatar to beat Bulgaria - 5/6

England to beat Switzerland - 7/10

Germany to beat Israel - 1/8

Colchester to beat Tranmere - 6/4

Mansfield v Oldham - 5/6

Port Vale to beat Sutton - 10/11

Harrogate to beat Scunthorpe - EVS

Northampton to beat Hartlepool - 21/20

Salford City to beat Walsall - 11/10

Gillingham to beat Accrington - 15/4

Cambridge Utd to beat AFC Wimbledon - 13/5

Charlton to beat Doncaster - 19/20

Ipswich to beat Plymouth - 4/5

Sheff Wed to beat Cheltenham - 1/2

Shrewsbury to beat Lincoln - 21/20

Mauritania to beat Mozambique - 13/10