Ireland’s Finn Azaz scored one of the all-time great FA Cup semi-final goals in Southampton’s heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.

Despite toppling Arsenal in the previous round, the Saints were naturally massive underdogs for this game, with Pep Guardiola’s City on the march towards a domestic treble.

Recommended

However, Southampton would put in a superb defensive performance, and Azaz was among their best performers in transition as they caused City problems at the other end of the pitch.

With just 11 minutes to go, Azaz sent the Southampton end into raptures with a goal for the ages. The Irishman received the ball with his back to goal, turned, and lashed a sublime curler past James Trafford in the City goal.

TNT commentator Darren Fletcher described it as the “goal of his life,” and Azaz passionately celebrated with the fans behind the goal.

However, it took just five minutes for City to level things up through a deflected Jeremy Doku strike. Moments later, another stunner from Nico Gonzalez completed the turnaround and broke Southampton hearts.

It was a gutting blow, with Southampton within just eight minutes of an FA Cup final spot.

However, Azaz’s goal will live long in the memory, and the Irishman earned some fully-deserved praise from his former manager Steven Gerrard on punditry duty.

READ HERE: Shay Given Had Intriguing Theory On Potential Caoimhín Kelleher Liverpool Return

READ HERE: Roy Keane Quick To Dismiss Myth Of Declan Rice After Arsenal Loss To Manchester City

Finn Azaz’s Wembley wondergoal

The TNT Sports panel were unanimous in their praise of Finn Azaz after the Ireland international’s wondergoal at Wembley on Saturday evening.

Ange Postecoglou described the strike as “unbelievable,” highlighting the fact that the shot on goal was effectively blind; while Joe Hart called it a “dream take.”

However, the most personal praise came from Steven Gerrard, who has worked with Azaz in the past.

Azaz was on the books as a squad player during Gerrard’s doomed year in charge of Villa, and the Liverpool legend spoke in glowing terms about the Ireland international’s character.

The goal doesn’t move, Ange makes a good point. He doesn’t even really have to set sight on the target, the goal doesn’t move.

It’s more the turn and putting the ball exactly where you want it so you can start that curler out away from the goalkeeper. It’s an absolutely exquisite finish.

That’s what he’s all about, Finn. I had him at Villa for a short space of time, he was knocking on the door to get more game time.

That’s his big strength, arriving in big areas and letting them fly, because he’s a hell of a ball striker.

Lovely words from Steven Gerrard, and well deserved.

After the heartbreak of Prague, yet another near miss will be tough to take for Finn Azaz.

However, the dream of Premier League football is still very much alive for him and his Southampton teammates, who are guaranteed a playoff place and could yet secure an unlikely automatic promotion.

SEE ALSO: Damien Delaney Spoke Sense On Why Controversial Munoz Goal v Liverpool Stood