The Southampton star who was even better than Jander at Wembley

The Southampton players cut dejected figures at the full-time whistle of their FA Cup semi final showdown with Manchester City.

Indeed, the glum faces took in the mass applause from their fans, but they would have been gutted, knowing they had collapsed late on to lose 2-1 to Pep Guardiola's side.

Still, they had pushed a team all the way that had the likes of John Stones, Rayan Cherki, and Phil Foden present, who are all well-established Premier League talents.

Guardiola's men had been pushed so hard that the Spaniard even had to bring on Erling Haaland for the late exchanges.

Caspar Jander wasn't fazed one bit by the overwhelming quality on display from the Sky Blues, as he was one of many contenders for Southampton's man of the match award at the close of the heartbreaking defeat.

Jander's man of the match-worthy display

Nico Gonzalez would steal all the headlines at the full-time whistle from the centre of the park, as he hit a thunderbolt winner that Daniel Peretz stood little chance of denying.

Yet, in the overall game, away from his moment of superb individual quality, Jander held his own against the likes of the silky Spaniard, with the number 20 standing out as a nippy presence, when winning eight duels.

His tenacity to keep battling won Southampton their opener, as he picked up a loose pass, leading to Finn Azaz curling home a wonderful strike past James Trafford.

The German hardly put a foot wrong all match, with Eckert just glad he had the lively 23-year-old at his disposal, to make up for first-team regular Flynn Downes being suspended.

Jander will fancy his chances of more first-team starts to come, as the Saints begin to think about the high intensity of playoff matches to follow.

Although arguments would suggest that Jander was Southampton's man of the match, there was an even better performer, potentially, than the ex-Nürnberg battler, in the more forward areas.

The Southampton star who was even better than Jander

Jander would deservedly be showered with praise at the full-time whistle by Eckert, with the promotion-chasing manager stating that the 23-year-old was "amazing" as Southampton prepares to enter into some huge games in the playoffs.

But, while this was a lively display fully deserving of acclaim, the aforementioned Azaz was the Saints' hero again, with his wonderful late effort beating Trafford, pushing him just ahead of Tander when analysing all the Southampton performers.

Only the very best, right at the top of English football, usually silence the likes of Ally McCoist in the TNT Sports commentary spots, with Azaz champing at the bit to score more memorable goals, to ensure his side do make their promotion dreams come true.

He was a bit quiet in the game in patches, but the Irishman will always have this spectacular goal to look back on when reminiscing over his career.

Now up to 20 goal contributions for the campaign, off the back of stunning those inside Wembley, the one-time Middlesbrough attacker will desperately wanting to face City again next season, as it's clear he is ready for the challenge of the Premier League, next to Jander.

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