GIANTS END PATS UNBEATEN RUN
The New York Giants stunned the New England Patriots in last night's Super Bowl, clinching a 17-10 win in Arizona.
Giants quarter-back Eli Manning finally answered his critics and replicated the achievements of his brother Peyton 12 months ago by claiming the Super Bowl MVP award.
Manning threw two touchdown passes to guide the Giants to glory and end the Patriots' bid to go through the entire season unbeaten although it was the Giants' defence that proved the difference at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
Patriots' quarter-back Tom Brady was sacked five times by a determined defence and the 12-point favourites struggled to get any momentum.
The game started brightly for the Giants. After keeping the ball for almost 10 minutes in the opening quarter, Scottish kicker Lawrence Tynes handed the Giants a 3-0 lead.
New England hit back however and after Laurence Maroney returned the restart for 43-years, Brady led the favourites to within one yard of the Giants line as the first-quarter came to a close. After the turnaround, Maroney burst through the hole in the defensive line to score the first touchdown of the night and hand the Pats a 7-3 lead.
It looked as though New England would take charge from that point as Manning was intercepted after the restart but the Giants held firm.
The third quarter was score-less as the Giants continued to expose the New England blocking and pressure Brady but New York took the lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
After tight-end Kevin Boss carried the Giants 45-yards down-field, Manning found wide-receiver David Tyree for a 10-7 lead.
New England were not finished however and Brady finally managed to throw the AFC Champions down-field and find Randy Moss in the end-zone to regain the advantage with two and a half minutes remaining.
After the restart, Manning was once again the man to take the Giants into the New England danger zone, travelling 83 yards in just 12 plays and with 35 seconds remaining, the quarter-back found Plaxico Burress for the decisive score.
Manning, who for many years had been slammed by critics and accused of living in his brother's shadow, later claimed he never had any doubt the Giants would score on their final drive.
"We've believed in ourselves all year and that's the position you want to be in, with a chance to win the game," he said.
"There were so many big plays on that drive. David Tyree made a huge catch, then Plaxico with the touchdown. Everybody stepped up. What a great win."
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