11.19am WA time: Rams celebrate

MATCH WRAP

In a venue built for champions, the Los Angeles Rams carried off the crown jewel: a Super Bowl trophy.

It took a precise 79-yard drive capped by Cooper Kupp’s 1-yard touchdown reception with 1:25 remaining for a 23-20 victory Sunday over the Cincinnati Bengals to give the Rams their first NFL title since the 1999 season -- and their first representing Los Angeles since 1951.

They did it in their home, the $5 billion SoFi Stadium, making the Rams the second consecutive host to win the championship after Tampa Bay became the first a year ago.

The winning series, during which Kupp’s 4-yard touchdown reception was negated by offsetting penalties, ended soon after with the NFL Offensive Player of the Year easily beating Eli Apple in the right corner of the end zone for the winning score.

Super Bowl MVP Kupp had four receptions for 39 yards on the championship drive.

Even with that brilliant, decisive march to the Lombardi Trophy, it was LA’s “fearsome fivesome” that made the difference. Led by Aaron Donald and Von Miller, they sacked Joe Burrow a Super Bowl record-tying seven times, shutting down the Cincinnati offense after a 22-second spurt to start the second half gave the Bengals the lead.

Fittingly, Burrow was under pressure on fourth-and-1 and threw incomplete, setting off a football fiesta the city has not seen since the LA Raiders won the 1983 championship.

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11:02am WA time: Game over!

LA Rams 23, Cincinnati Bengals 20

The Rams are Super Bowl champs – in their home stadium!

After Stafford’s hit in the third period, the Bengals suffered what appeared to be an even more significant knee injury for their own quarterback, with Burrow heading to the bench.

The star would be cleared and watched from the sidelines as the Rams drove with less than five minutes remaining.

A Kupp rush on fourth down was pivotal to keeping the drive alive, with the star receiver then taking a series of catches as LA crept closer to the end zone.

Kupp appeared to have the winning catch before offsetting penalties were called, but he wouldn’t be denied in the end zone a second time for the one-yarn winner.

The Bengals came up short trying to get within field goal range, with Aaron Donald coming up huge to force the final incompletion.

It led to wild scenes of celebration as the hometown team celebrated, with Rams coach Sean McVay copping the obligatory blue Gatorade shower.

10:12am WA time: End of third period

Cincinnati Bengals 20, LA Rams 16

A 75-yard scoring drive on the very first play after half-time? That’s just what the Bengals ordered.

Burrow found Tee Higgins, who appeared to get away with a pass interference no-call on Jalen Ramsey before sprinting in for the touchdown.

It’s followed immediately by a Stafford interception off a tipped pass to leave LA shellshocked coming out of the break.

The Bengals add a field goal which is soon countered by an answering three points from the Rams.

A left foot complaint for Stafford emerged as an issue after the Rams quarterback was pinned, with the home team pushing against the Bengals’ momentum heading into the final frame.

9.28am WA time: Half-time show ends

Wow. How good was that?!

Dr Dre led the way, with Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J Blige, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent all playing their part in a dream show for 80s and 90s babies - and everyone else.

8:59am WA time: End of second period

LA Rams 13, Cincinnati Bengals 10

Stafford opened the second period in fine style, driving the length of their field before seeking out his No.1 target in Cooper Kupp.

Stafford again goes to the right-side corner to find a touchdown, with the 11-yard pass connecting with Kupp to open up a 13-3 lead. The Rams then botched their two-point attempt.

Joe Mixon’s running game led the Bengals’ response on the next drive, before his unlikely throw gave the underdogs their opening touchdown.

Mixon got the ball from Burrow and faked a run before finding Tee Higgins for a six-yard TD pass.

It sparked a mini momentum shift, with Beckham Jr suffering an apparent knee injury before Stafford turned the ball over taking a long shot at the end zone before the two-minute warning.

But the Bengals and Rams both fell short in their attempts to score in the waning moments, leaving the score at 13-10 at intermission.

8:13am WA time: End of first period

LA Rams 7, Cincinnati Bengals 3

The Bengals made a dream start, stopping Stafford in his tracks with a superb defensive possession to open the game.

But LA’s defence countered immediately with a stop of their own as both teams felt one another out early.

Stafford then stepped up with an impressive drive that resulted in a pinpoint 17-yeard end-zone pass for Odell Beckham Jr for the game’s first touchdown, with Johnny Hekker converting the extra point to establish a 7-0 lead.

Burrow then had a chance to steady in response, and worked the ball all the way down the field - including a superb Ja’Marr Chase catch - but couldn’t find a target in the end zone, with the Bengals settling for the field goal.

- with AP