New England 32-29 Carolina

0330: There are no heroics for the Panthers on the kick return and the New England Patriots claim their second Super Bowl championship in three years.

0326: Adam Vinatieri has had a mixed night, but he gets it right when it matters most, slotting a kick over from 41 yards to surely win the Super Bowl. There are four seconds left.
New England 32-29 Carolina

0324: Troy Brown makes a fantastic catch to get inside Carolina territory. But New England still need a few more yards with 15 seconds remaining. Deion Branch pulls a game-breaking pass out of the sky to put Adam Vinatieri well within range.

0321: Despite Jake Delhomme's heroics, the Patriots still have plenty of time to get Adam Vinatieri into field-goal range.

0317: At third and eight, Jake Delhomme finds Ricky Proehl to score a touchdown with barely more than a minute remaining.
New England 29-29 Carolina

0314: Jake Delhomme still has plenty of time to tie this game. And he makes up big yardage straight away, finding Ricky Proehl inside the Panthers' 20-yard marker. The quarterback from Louisiana is having a huge second half.

0310: Two quick runs and a caught-pass propel Carolina straight back into the New England half as the two-minute warning takes effect.

0303: David Givens catches another Tom Brady pass on the five-yard line. Two plays later Brady finds Mike Vrabel in the endzone to put the delirious Patriots ahead again. They add two extra points with a trick play from Kevin Faulk.
New England 29-22 Carolina

0300: Tom Brady comes up with a big first-down pass to keep New England's drive alive. And then he goes long to David Givens, who is in field goal range. Four minutes remain.

0256: The New England Patriots have not trailed in a game since 23 November. But they are behind in the Super Bowl with less than seven minutes remaining. What can Tom Brady do now?

0251: Jake Delhomme is being pressured in the pocket, but he comes up with a miracle play on 3rd and 10, launching a superbly-flighted throw to Muhsim Muhammad for an 85-yard touchdown. The two-point attempt fails again.
New England 21-22 Carolina

0242: Kevin Faulk picks out a big gap to thrust New England into prime position inside the opponents' 10. But Tom Brady fails to convert and is picked off by Reggie Howard to keep Carolina's hopes alive.

0239: Following the pattern of the first half, both offensive units are finding their ranges after slow starts. It is Tom Brady's turn to marshall a promising drive.

0230: DeShaun Foster collects the ball and jinks his way past a couple of defenders to run in a hugely-important touchdown. Jake Delhomme fails in his bid for a two-point conversion.
New England 21-16 Carolina

0227: This is a big possession for Jake Delhomme, but his team pick up a costly penalty to put him under pressure. He responds with two huge plays to Steve Smith, who makes a fantastic catch each time.

0222: The first play of the final quarter ends in controversy as the Patriots have a touchdown ruled out. But they resume just two yards from a commanding lead and Antowain Smith duly obliges with a running score.
New England 21-10 Carolina

0218: This is a worrying time for Carolina fans as Tom Brady connects for more big passing yards to put New England inside the 10-yard-to-go line. The quarter ends.

0213: New England QB Tom Brady picks out his favourite receiver Deion Branch to put his team in a threatening position.

0208: Stephen Davis is seeing a lot of the football as Carolina try to establish their running game.

0202: The game has returned to the pattern of the first quarter, with both defensive units on top.

0153: Tom Brady strikes out so possession swings to Carolina. Jake Delhomme fares better, finding Jermaine Wiggins, who makes a move to get the first down.

0144: A streaking fan delays the start of the third quarter. But John Kasey eventually kicks the ball to New England.

0132: Justin Timberlake makes a surprise appearance during Janet Jackson's set and the crowd goes wild.

0115: Now the attention switches to P Diddy, Kid Rock and Janet Jackson, who is headlining the half-time show.

0112: New England are looking for a pass play, but Stephen Davis sets off on a Carolina run and bursts clear for 21 yards. John Kasey slots an impressive 50-yard field goal to round out the half.
New England 14-10 Carolina

0109: Incredibly Tom Brady finds Houston local David Givens in the endzone to restore New England's lead. Surely there is no time for a further score this half. . .
New England 14-7 Carolina

0105: Patriots QB Tom Brady takes his turn to go deep and connects with Deion Branch for a 52-yard reception. This defensive tussle has suddenly become an offensive duel.

0100: Jake Delhomme goes deep to Steve Smith, who catches the ball and runs in for a 39-yard touchdown completion. The momentum is suddenly with the Panthers just before half-time.
New England 7-7 Carolina

0057: Jake Delhomme throws his second and third-straight completions to drive the Panthers into New England territory.

0050: Jake Delhomme starts up deep in his own territory and fails to find his man again. The Carolina QB is just one-of-nine in pass attempts. At third and long, however, he connects with Ricky Proehl.

0045: Having inherited the ball in prime position, Tom Brady throws a play-action fake and connects with Deion Branch to record the first touchdown. The point-after is good.
New England 7-0 Carolina

0041: As Jake Delhomme takes another sack, the clock ticks down to five minutes before the interval. A Super Bowl has never before had to wait this long for its first score.

0036: The Patriots have got their runnng game going and Tom Brady is throwing for the endzone again. He fails again but kicker Adam Vinatieri has a chance to make amends for his earlier miss. His attempt is blocked at the line of scrimmage and the stalemate continues.

0028: At third down and inches, Tom Brady's quarterback sneak falls short. And controversy ensues when the Patriots go for it on fourth down. The officials award first down to New England but Carolina challenge the call. After reviewing video evidence, the call stands much to head coach John Fox's annoyance.

0024: The first-down chains are moving at last as Kevin Faulk makes good yards for the Patriots, who pass the half-way line on offence.

0020: All the pre-game talk was of a low scoring Super Bowl, perhaps the lowest scoring in history. Carolina and New England have shown nothing to disprove the speculation.

0013: Carolina win back the ball and start at their own 37-yard line, their best position of the game. QB Jake Delhomme pays the price for their temerity, however, getting hit for his second sack as yet another possession slips by.

0008 The clock winds down on the first quarter with the Patriots in possession in their own half.

0006: Carolina running back Stephen Davis is having no luck running the ball against a tight New England defence.

0000: Tom Brady's Patriots are having the better of things, but they are not putting any points on board. Brady takes his first sack.

2353: Jake Delhomme comes perilously close to a safety before the Panthers are forced to punt for the third straight time. They are losing the field-position battle thus far.

2345: Jake Delhomme is having a baptism of fire in his first trip to the Super Bowl. The former NFL Europe quarterback takes a sack as the Panthers fail to get a first down.

2338: Adam Vinatieri comes back on to the field for a field-goal attempt, but the usually-reliable kicker misses right from 31 yards. Carolina will get the ball back still on level terms.

2333: After Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme strikes out, Tom Brady takes his turn and drives the Patriots towards the endzone. But he fails in his bid to throw a touchdown pass.

2328: Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri gets the game started.

2325: Carolina win the toss and elect to receive.

2320: Beyonce Knowles sings the American national anthem as thousands of fans hold up mini US flags. Kick-off is only five minutes away.

2310: The players take to the field in earnest to huge ovation from a packed Houston crowd.

2245: Aerosmith crank up the pre-game entertainment show after some country tunes from Willie Nelson.

Players from both teams have taken a stroll on the field to taste the atmosphere ahead of a 2325 GMT kick-off.

New England bring a 14-game winning streak to the Super Bowl and they will start as many people's favourites to win.