SAM Allardyce described it as the "goal of the season" but Jay-Jay Okocha's super strike is now being mentioned in the same breath as some of the most famous free-kicks of all time.

The Bolton skipper's thunderbolt -- struck with the outside of his right foot and swerved the "wrong" side of Villa's two man wall before spearing just inside the post -- ranks alongside the most memorable of set-pieces: Paul Gascoigne's celebrated strike for Spurs in the 1991 FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal; the unbelievable "bender" Brazilian World Cup winner Roberto Carlos scored against France in La Tournoi in 1997; and David Beckham's dramatic equaliser against Greece at Old Trafford in October 2001 that fired England into the World Cup Finals.

Wanderers legend John McGinlay explains why the Okocha goal that put Wanderers in touching distance of the Carling Cup Final, rates so highly.

"It was absolutely phenomenal," the Scots striker said. "He really had no target to hit. But the ball had just enough bend to take it round the wall before it straightened up and went in like an arrow.

"If Roberto Carlos had scored a goal like that, all the world would have been talking about it -- like they were about the one he scored against France. This was up there with that one."

Bruce Rioch, who took Wanderers to the 1995 Coca-Cola Cup Final and was a Sky TV pundit at Wednesday night's cup tie, said: "Technically it was fantastic. Anybody who wants to learn how to strike a free kick with pace and accuracy should study his technique."

Referee Paul Durkin confessed that he did not have a good view of the wonder goal but clearly enjoyed the game and Okocha's performance, remarking as he left: "He's some player, isn't he!"