‘Red Toma’ Mitoma, EPL’s 7th goal explosion… Most goals scored by a Japanese player in a single season
Kaoru Mitoma of ‘The Red Horse’ broke the English Premier League (EPL) record for the most goals scored by a Japanese in a single season.
Mitoma’s team, Brighton & Hove Albion, drew 3-3 in the 2022-2023 EPL round 29 home game against Brentford held at Palmer Stadium in Brighton, England on the 1st (local time).
Mitoma, who started as a left striker, scored an equalizer in the 21st minute when his team was trailing 0-1.
In a counterattack situation, goalkeeper Jason Steele passed the ball at once, running quickly and receiving it, and split the goalpost with a roving shot that passed the opponent’s goalkeeper’s key.
It was a goal scene that showed off Mitoma’s speed and decisiveness.
It was also a moment to rewrite Japanese soccer history.
Mitoma scored his 7th goal of the season, breaking the Japanese EPL record for most goals in a single season held by Shinji Okazaki and Shinji Kagawa (6 goals).
The most goals in the EPL by an Asian was 23 goals scored by joint top scorer Son Heung-min last season. Son Heung-min, who has been sluggish this season, is recording 6 goals (10 goals in the official game).
The EPL also congratulated Mitoma on Twitter and other social media by announcing the achievement of Mitoma’s new record.
Mitoma dominated the Japanese stage by scoring 30 official goals in one and a half seasons from 2020 on his first professional team, Kawasaki Frontale.
After transferring to Brighton in 2021, he was loaned for one season to Saint-Giloise in Belgium. On the Belgian stage, Mitoma showed potential by scoring eight goals in the official match. 스포츠토토
After returning this season, Mitoma has scored 10 goals in 28 matches. He scored two goals in the English Football Association (FA) Cup and one goal in the Carabao Cup.
Mitoma, who has been showing impressive performances since his EPL debut season, is receiving attention from ‘big clubs’ such as Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool, and his stock price is soaring.
Brighton won a dramatic draw in the 45th minute of the second half thanks to Alexis Markalister’s penalty kick.
Brighton, who continued their 4 match undefeated march, were in 6th place (43 points) with 12 wins, 7 draws and 7 losses.
The gap with 4th place Tottenham (49 points), which is given the right to advance to the European Football Federation (UEFA) Champions League (UCL) next season, is 6 points, and Brighton played two fewer games than Tottenham.