American Football: Veteran quarterback Kurt Warner threw two touchdown passes before orchestrating an Arizona Cardinals fightback and a gripping 30-24 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in their NFC wildcard play-off last night.
NFC West champions Arizona raced into an early 14-3 lead but trailed 17-14 at half-time before taking control with 14 unanswered points in the third quarter.
Despite having lost four of their last six games in the regular season, Arizona held off Atlanta's much-vaunted rushing offense with running back Edgerrin James outgaining Michael Turner, the league's number two rusher.
Competing in their first playoff game at home in 61 years in front of a highly charged, capacity crowd at the University of Phoenix Stadium, the Cardinals outscored the Falcons by four touchdowns to three.
"I hope this gives us a lot of confidence," a beaming Warner told reporters after completing 19 of 32 passes for 271 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
"I knew we believed we could win this game. I hope we can parlay this into some more confidence and believe we can go wherever we have to go and win."
The Cardinals will next meet either the New York Giants or the Carolina Panthers away next weekend.