New England Patriots 14-17 New York Giants

The New York Giants produced perhaps the biggest upset in Super Bowl history last night, with a stunning 17-14 victory over the New England Patriots in Phoenix.

The Patriots were one win away from an undefeated season, a standard that has only been achieved once before in the NFL - by the 1972 Miami Dolphins - and began the game as 5-1 on favorites. Plaxico Burress's touchdown with 35 seconds remaining, however, ended those hopes.

The Giants quarterback Eli Manning was awarded the Super Bowl MVP award, but the real stars of the game were the Giants' defensive linemen, who helped restrict the usually free-scoring Pats to just 14 points. The Patriots has scored at least 20 points in every game of their 18-0 run to the Super Bowl, but a remarkably resolute New York side held firm throughout.

The early exchanges gave little hint of the largely attritional fare that was to come. The Giants received the kick-off and moved downfield for a field goal on their first drive, but the Patriots responded on their first possession with Laurence Maroney running in for a touchdown from a yard out.

That score was in the opening moments of the second quarter and gave the Patriots a 7-3 lead. What followed was intriguing, if a little low-key. The Giants were able to put pressure on the Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, denying him the time to find his favored receivers, but on offense the New Yorkers struggled to make an impact in the New England half.

Heading towards the fourth quarter with the score still 7-3, thoughts turned to another record - that of the lowest-scoring Super Bowl. Again the Dolphins hold that title, with their 14-7 victory over Washington in January 1973. With 11 minutes to go, however, Manning threaded a pass David Tyree in the end zone to put the Giants 10-7 ahead.

Back came the Patriots again. Randy Moss created space in the end zone after a near-immaculate drive orchestrated by Brady and New England were 14-10 up with 2.42 left on the clock.

That meant a make-or-break final drive for the Giants. Brandon Jacobs squeaked through on a fourth down with 1.22 remaining, then moments later Manning produced the play of the match. New York's chance seemed to have gone, with the Patriots defensive linemen clawing at the quarterback's jersey, but Manning wriggled free and found Tyree downfield to set up a 1st and 10 on the Patriots 24-yard line.

A few plays later Burress flumoxed the corner back Ellis Hobbs and found himself free in the end zone. Manning hit his man and the Giants held firm on New England's final possession to seal a remarkable victory.

· Read Paolo Bandini's verdict on Super Bowl XLII by clicking

© Guardian News & Media 2008 Published: 2/4/2008