Pahars lets fly to double Southampton's lead

With 67 minutes gone, Pahars latched onto Anders Svensson's 50-yard pass to the left of the Sunderland area.

As the covering defender tried to get across, Pahars nodded the ball on with his head and then unleashed a ferocious shot with the outside of his right foot from a narrow angle.

Sunderland keeper Thomas Sorensen just got a touch but the ball cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and into the net.

"The own goal came from a great move and a cross into the box," said Saints boss Gordon Strachan.

"The second goal certainly had nothing to do with luck - it was a great goal."