NFL

Cruz shows off moves after scoring Giants’ first touchdown

A ONE AND A TWO: Victor Cruz – The Post’s Super Bowl diarist – hauls in a 2-yard touchdown pass, then breaks out his trademark salsa. (
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INDIANAPOLIS – Victor Cruz ran off the field afterward, pointing a finger at the crowd. Then in the interview area, the Giants wide receiver took off his jersey, put on a white T-shirt that read “Super Bowl Champions” and hugged teammate Kenny Phillips.

Cruz’s incredible season finished with a championship, with the breakout star — and Post diarist — scoring the game’s first touchdown in the 21-17 Super Bowl XLVI win over the Patriots.

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Cruz had failed to score in each of the Giants’ first three postseason games, the first of his career.

The Patterson, N.J., native caught four passes for 25 yards last night, with both Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham out-performing him statistically. But Cruz delivered the trio’s only TD, scoring on a 2-yard pass from Eli Manning in the first quarter.

“It’s just a dream come true,” he said. “When you grow up and you watch this game, year in and year out, hoping that you could just get yourself in a position to play in this league. To come in and not only play but to score the touchdown in the Super Bowl, it was just … I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

The play came with 3:29 to go in the first quarter and the Giants facing a second-and-goal from the New England 2-yard line. Cruz beat safety James Ihedigbo on a slant over the middle, jumped for Manning’s pass, bobbled it but snared it for the TD. He then spun the ball on the ground in celebration and did his customary salsa dance in the back of the end zone as the PA system blared Ace Frehley’s “New York Groove.”

“It was a hell of a play,” Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said. “It was ‘blitz zero’ but they pulled the linebacker out and they almost stole it and knocked it away. At least it obscured his vision. For him to concentrate and make the catch even though he bobbled it was tremendous.”

Cruz was an early hero, but he was almost the first goat. Two plays before his touchdown, he caught a Manning pass for 4 yards to the Patriots 7-yard line but fumbled it and New England recovered. But the Patriots were flagged for having 12 men on the field, keeping the Giants drive alive.

Cruz said he was already tackled.

“I wasn’t scared. I knew I was down on that pass,” he said. “Initially, when you see it happen, you get a little scared, but I knew I was down.”

mark.hale@nypost.com