American Football: New York Giants seal Super Bowl place

Steve Weatherford of the New York Giants celebrates after the Giants won 20-17 in overtime against the San Francisco 49ers (GETTY IMAGES)

The New York Giants will face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI after beating the San Francisco 49ers in overtime in the NFC Championship game on Sunday.

Lawrence Tynes kicked the winning field goal from 31 yards to give the Giants a 20-17 victory at Candlestick Park.

The Patriots had earlier edged into the Super Bowl by beating the Baltimore Ravens 23-20 in the AFC Championship game when kicker Billy Cundiff missed a 32-yard field goal to force overtime.

Scotland-born Tynes said: "It's amazing. It's my second NFC Championship game and my second game-winner.

"I had dreams about this last night, but it was from 42 (yards) not 31.

"I was so nervous today, just anticipating this kind of game. I knew I was going to have to make a kick."

Tynes also kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime at Green Bay in the 2008 NFC title game that put the Giants in the Super Bowl, where they beat the Patriots to end their quest for a perfect season.

Kyle Williams was the villain for the 49ers, fumbling a punt return in overtime to leave the Giants on the 24-yard line, from where three runs set up Tynes to seal the win.

Williams, returning kicks in place of the injured Ted Ginn, also failed to gather a punt early in the fourth quarter to set up the touchdown - a 17-yard pass from Eli Manning to Mario Manningham - which put the Giants ahead 17-14.

David Akers kicked a 25-yard field goal for the 49ers to take the game to overtime, but it was his opposite number Tynes who ended up as the hero.

PA