Tokyo (AFP) – Two-goal hero Kaoru Mitoma could possibly be Japan’s secret weapon on the World Cup and also will hope to finally make his mark within the Premier League with a Brighton facet crying out for firepower.
The difficult 24-year-old winger despatched Japan to the Qatar showpiece with a late brace in a 2-0 win over Australia in Sydney on Thursday simply minutes after approaching instead.
Mitoma’s heroics got here in solely his second look for his nation and underlined why Brighton supervisor Graham Potter took a punt on him final summer season from J-League champions Kawasaki Frontale, the place he scored 30 occasions in 64 matches.
Brighton, the third-lowest scorers within the Premier League, handed Mitoma a four-year contract after which despatched him off to Belgian facet Union Saint-Gilloise to realize expertise.
“He’s one we now have tracked for some time so we’re wanting ahead to seeing how he progresses within the subsequent yr and we can be watching him intently throughout his time in Belgium,” mentioned Brighton’s then-technical director Dan Ashworth.
Mitoma has thrived in Belgium’s prime flight, bagging 5 targets in 18 appearances and scoring a hat-trick for the shock league leaders after coming off the bench along with his staff 2-0 down in opposition to RFC Seraing earlier this season.
Mitoma opted to go to school moderately than turning skilled straight out of college however he’s progressing properly now that he’s enjoying commonly in Europe, though the Premier League can be an enormous step up from Belgium’s first division.
“I’ve been enjoying in opposition to a lot of totally different gamers from world wide and I’ve obtained used to it,” mentioned Mitoma, who was a part of the Japan staff that completed fourth eventually yr’s Tokyo Olympics.
“It’s widened my vary and elevated the issues that I can do. I’m much more assured than I used to be once I was in Japan.”
– Outshining Minamino –
Mitoma upstaged Takumi Minamino in a moist Sydney.
With the Liverpool ahead misfiring in entrance of aim, Mitoma got here off the bench within the 84th minute as Minamino departed and gave Japan the lead with a scientific end simply 5 minutes later.
Mitoma’s chic second aim arrived 4 minutes into harm time, after he ghosted previous a number of Australia defenders earlier than unleashing a shot that goalkeeper Mat Ryan let slip previous him.
Japan supervisor Hajime Moriyasu has largely caught to a tried-and-trusted group of gamers in qualifying however Mitoma can be hoping to play a number one position in Qatar after his beautiful cameo.
“Regardless of the scenario, even should you solely have one minute, it’s a must to get outcomes on this enterprise,” mentioned Mitoma, who’s right-footed and performs on both flank.
“It has nothing to do with how lengthy you get on the pitch, it’s a must to get outcomes.”
Mitoma is certainly one of a number of gamers hoping to drive their manner into Moriyasu’s beginning XI earlier than the World Cup kicks off in November.
Actual Mallorca starlet Takefusa Kubo, on mortgage from Actual Madrid, and Celtic trio Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda have all seen restricted enjoying time through the qualifiers.
Moriyasu mentioned after Thursday’s sport that he desires Japan to achieve the World Cup quarter-finals for the primary time of their historical past in Qatar.
“I’ll be taking one other take a look at a lot of totally different gamers and holding a detailed eye on how they develop and carry out main as much as the World Cup,” mentioned the supervisor.
