Report: Five-star Saints brush aside QPR

Finn Azaz got the ball rolling with a perfectly-placed curling shot inside the first 10 minutes of a controlled first half.

Saints upped the ante in the closing minutes before the interval, as Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed against the upright and Caspar Jander was denied by goalkeeper Joe Walsh, before Kuryu Matsuki headed home his first Championship goal from Leo Scienza’s inswinging corner.

Scienza was a threat all night, as his parried shot was dispatched on the rebound by Player of the Match Matsuki, before Azaz freed Scienza to score himself via the inside of the post.

James Bree capped a perfect night with a deflected strike from 25 yards, his second goal in three games, as Saints produced a statement of intent under the lights at St Mary’s.

Tonda Eckert made three changes following Saturday’s home draw with Charlton, taking no chances on the fitness of Ross Stewart, who scored against the Addicks, and Shea Charles, who made his first start for four months in that match.

Tom Fellows also dropped to the bench, as Jander, Matsuki and Cyle Larin returned to the starting line-up, with the Canadian making his first league start in English football.

Cyle Larin battles with former Saint Ronnie Edwards on the Canadian's first Championship start

The visitors named an unchanged side following an impressive 3-1 victory at Hull that left them level on points with Saints coming into the game.

There was an early penalty claim for Rangers when Amadou Mbengue went to ground under the challenge of Ryan Manning, who did have an arm on his back and stick out a foot, but perhaps any contact may have been outside the area in any case.

But it was Saints who took the lead through a brilliantly-taken goal from Azaz nine minutes in. Jander started the move with a neat drop of the shoulder in midfield, before Scienza and Manning were also involved.

It was from a short pass into his feet from his Irish compatriot that Azaz received the ball with a first touch out of his feet that took Nicolas Madsen out of the picture, before his second whipped a 20-yard shot around captain Jimmy Dunne, unsighting Walsh, who could not reach the curling shot, which nestled beautifully inside his left-hand post.

Finn Azaz opens the scoring with a perfectly-placed low shot

Azaz had his sights set on a second goal 10 minutes later when he robbed Harvey Vale of possession on the halfway line, inviting Scienza to drive forward and lead a two-on-one with Azaz to his left, but the Brazilian delayed, allowing Vale to recover and intercept his underhit pass.

More Saints pressing presented the goalscorer with another chance when Matsuki stole the ball this time, but Azaz saw his left-footed shot saved by Walsh’s outstretched leg before being flagged offside.

By now QPR had already been forced into their first change, with Nicolas Madsen injured on the half-hour mark.

Harvey Vale did hit a low shot wide that the winger claimed was deflected en route, but a goal kick was awarded, adding to the visitors’ frustration.

Kuryu Matsuki heads home from close range to score his first Championship goal

Saints threatened to double the lead seven minutes before the interval when Harwood-Bellis rose highest to meet Manning’s swirling free-kick with a downward header that skidded into the face of Walsh’s right-hand post, somehow eluding centre-back partner Jack Stephens on its way back into play.

Jander then forced a smothering save from the keeper on the German’s return to the side, as Saints went hunting for a second before the break.

That goal duly arrived in the second minute of added time, as Scienza delivered a corner from the left that Matsuki gleefully headed home from close range, unopposed in front of keeper Walsh, to claim his first Championship goal.

Two goals to the good at the interval, Saints did not stop there, as Matsuki quickly added another goal of his own within five minutes of the restart.

Scienza was again the architect, receiving the ball from Manning and bending a low shot towards the far corner that forced Walsh to parry, but only as far as the Japanese, who calmly steered the ball into the net as he celebrated his third Championship start with his second Championship goal.

Matsuki celebrates in front of the Northam Wall

St Mary’s roared with anticipation when Matsuki burst through the middle shortly after, taking a tremendous Harwood-Bellis pass in his stride, only to be shrugged off the ball as he made his way into the box.

Daniel Peretz made his first save of the night to keep out Vale’s stinging shot, but this night was all about Saints, who made it four before the hour mark through Scienza, who deserved to add his name to the scoresheet.

Saints counter-attacked at speed as Azaz released him over the halfway line, before Scienza dropped his shoulder to jink inside the last defender and placed a low shot inside the far corner that Walsh got a hand to, but only succeeded in tipping the ball against his own post and in. It was the same finish the Brazilian had attempted just before that resulted in Matsuki’s second goal.

Bree put the final flourish on things with 20 minutes of normal time still to play, finding the far corner with a well-struck shot from range that just clipped a defender on its way into the net, prompting Matsuki and Scienza to depart to standing ovations soon after.

Peretz, meanwhile, hardly called upon all night, did get himself involved in the action when he came rushing out to head a ball only inches off the ground, adding to the party atmosphere inside a rejuvenated St Mary’s, leaving Saints fans dreaming of another walk up Wembley Way in May.

Southampton: Peretz, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens (c), Manning, Downes (Charles 82), Jander, Matsuki (Fellows 75), Azaz (Stewart 68), Scienza (Edozie 75), Larin (Archer 68).

Subs not used: Long, Wood, Jelert, Bragg.

Goals: Azaz (9’), Matsuki (45’+2, 50’), Scienza (59’), Bree (70’).

Booked: Jander.

Queens Park Rangers: Walsh, Mbengue, Dunne (c), Edwards, Norrington-Davies (Esquerdinha 61), Hayden, Madsen (Morgan 31), Saito, Vale (Adamson 60), Kolli (Bennie 46), Kone (Varane 67).

Subs not used: Hamer, Clarke-Salter, Smith, Alemayehu.

Attendance: 26,422.

Referee: Oliver Langford.