The San Francisco 49ers have booked their place in the NFC championship match courtesy of a 23-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers this evening.

The 49ers moved into a 6-0 lead in the first quarter of the divisional playoff round courtesy of two field goals by Phil Dawson from 49 yards and 33 yards.

The Panthers were the first to register a touchdown in the match, doing so early in the second quarter when Cam Newton picked out Steve Smith in the endzone with an inch-perfect 31-yard pass.

Carolina then edged further in front through a 24-yard field goal from Graham Gano, but the 49ers ensured that they would take the lead into half time with a late touchdown.

Colin Kaepernick took his time with under 15 seconds left of the half, running to his right before eventually picking out Vernon Davis, who did well to get both of his feet down in time at the back of the endzone.

Kaepernick then showed his running skills in the third quarter as he burst through a couple of tackles to reach the endzone from four yards for a score of his own.

Dawson added his third field goal of the match from 34 yards midway through the final quarter to extend the lead to 13 points, and that was how it stayed as the 49ers set up an NFC showdown with the Seattle Seahawks on January 19.