Double Heineken Cup champions Leicester stunned defending champions Wasps in a thrilling match at the Causeway Stadium.

The home side's fullback Mark van Gisbergen kicked eight penalty goals and a conversion but it was Tigers goal-kicker Andy Goode who bagged the victory with five penalty goals, two conversions and a crucial final-minute dropped goal.

The Tigers stunned the home fans with a try in only the second minute. Winger Leon Lloyd broke clear and linked with Ollie Smith, who found England flanker Lewis Moody in support for the opening five-pointer. Goode slotted a superb sideline conversion and Wasps were staring at a 0-7 scoreline.

Goode converted a penalty as tempers flared between the two heavyweights of European rugby, and things went from bad to terrible for Wasps when Tigers fullback Geordan Murphy was on the end of a clever backline move to take the score to 15-0 in only 12 minutes.

Wasps fullback van Gisbergen put his side on the scoreboard with two penalty goals, but had to bow to the skills of Goode, who kicked another fine conversion after backrower No 8 Martin Corry collected an Austin Healey cross-kick to score in the corner.

The Tigers' storming start came to a grinding halt in the 25th minute when feisty scrum-half Harry Ellis was yellow-carded for a professional foul, and Wasps winger Josh Lewsey powered over the try-line to narrow the margin.

Van Gisbergen (two) and Goode traded penalty goals and the Tigers took a 25-19 lead into the halftime break.

Van Gisbergen made it a three-point game with his sixth successful goal, and levelled the scores with his seventh when Murphy put in an illegal hit on Lewsey.

Leicester sneaked back in front through two Goode penalty goals, but they couldn't shake the home side as van Gisbergen banged another goal between the uprights. The New Zealand-born fullback then tried his luck from near the halfway and his eighth penalty goal levelled the scores at 31 apiece as the match entered its last 10 minutes.

Goode nudged his side ahead in the final five minutes with yet another goal, and produced a stunning long-range dropped goal to seal an incredible victory.