San Francisco - and everything that comes with them - are the American Football team that this year cede a home game to play a regular season match at Wembley, against the Denver Broncos, as the NFL franchise looks to win new fans
The opening entertainment also includes a mini-set by My Chemical Romance, The Star Spangled Banner sung by Michelle Williams and Jeff Beck playing God Save The Queen on his custom-made Startocaster guitar
The 49ers - after losing six of their opening seven games, three of those by three points or less - were hoping for the luck of London that saw New Orleans play 'at home' at Wembley and then go on to win the Super Bowl
San Francisco dominate the first quarter with a 12-play drive, including three 10-yard-plus plays and 27 yards rushed by Frank Gore, but only have a field goal to show for it by the end
Troy Smith is the surprise inclusion in the 49ers' offence, coach Mike Singletary preferring him to David Carr - sacked a record 76 times in 2002 - as replacement for injured regular quarterback Alex Smith
Denver's problem so far this season has been a reliance on Kyle Orton's arm, having rushed less than 70 yards every game so far, and soon have their first drive thwarted, punting to San Francisco's 22-yard line
The Broncos have possession again as neither team has the confidence to make a big play and trade the ball like a hot potato, though Gore picks up another 21 yards from San Francisco's best play of the second quarter
Orton has improved his quarterback rating for five consecutive seasons (having only been intercepted four times this year) but his team are still 3-0 down in to the third quarter, having had to punt five times already
But Orton, from a snap on the Broncos' own 22, picks out Brandon Lloyd who runs the ball to San Francisco's one-yard line, Tim Tebow running in the touchdown on the following play
The 49ers waste their next drive on a missed field goal before Orton believes he has thrown a 46-yard touchdown pass to Jabar Gaffney only for the play to be pulled back for a penalty against Knowshon Moreno
A series of heavy sacks take their toll on Orton by the fourth quarter as the Broncos' quarterback misses two throws in prime San Francisco territory and Denver settle for a Matt Prater field goal to make it 10-3
San Francisco run the ball to the halfway line in return from where Smith, falling backwards, throws the ball high and hopeful for Delanie Walker to pluck it out of the air between Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins
With his Hail Mary pass earning the 49ers' scrimmage at at the two-yard line, Smith then runs the ball in for a touchdown on the second attempt at goal to make it 10-10
Denver lose possession too easily and Smith turns this game around, finding Michael Crabtree wide left for the touchdown and completing 155 yards thrown in the second half (having only thrown 37 in the first)
San Francisco move into an imposing 24-10 lead when Frank Gore touches down
Brandon Lloyd gets a consolation touchdown for Denver, but the extra point is missed and the game finishes 24-16 to San Francisco with all but three of the points coming in the last two quarters
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