Last Updated: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:20
The New Orleans Saints upset the odds to claim their first Super Bowl victory with a 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Miami.
Quarterback Drew Brees was the star of the show, connecting on a record-equalling 32 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns to lead his side to glory in southern Florida.
The game was billed as a close affair with both offensive units capable of scoring points at will, but the respective defences also boasted excellent records.
The Colts got on the scoreboard first with a field goal from 42-year-old Matt Stover before their star QB Peyton Manning drove his side 96 yards, tieing the longest drive in Super Bowl history, to finish with a touchdown toss to Pierre Garcon to open up a 10-0 lead.
The Saints hit back with two field goals and the half-time score read 10-6 to the Colts, as veteran rockers The Who belted out some of their hits to entertain the fans.
New Orleans continue the good work in the second half as Pierre Thomas ran the ball into the end zone on a 16-yard screen pass, with several crucial blocks opening up the way.
Manning then engineered a five-minute 76-yard drive which culminated in a four-yard Joseph Addai run to put the Colts 17-16 ahead.
But that was as good as it got for the favourites as Jeremy Shockey muscled his way over for the go-ahead TD and, following a review, Saints worked a two-point conversion.
Manning then marched his side down to the Saints' 31 before Tracy Porter picked off the superstar quarterback and ran back 74 yards for a touchdown that effectively ended the contest.
The Colts could do nothing in the remaining time and Drew Brees was named Most Valuable Player as the side from the Deep South won the sport's biggest prize for the first time in their history.