Japanese striker Kaoru Mitoma scored twice, contributing greatly to the 3-1 victory over Bournemouth in round six of the Premier League.
Both of Mitoma's goals were decisive. In the 46th minute, with the score at 1-1, he rushed into the penalty area after a pass from the left wing, flicked the ball into the far corner to put Brighton up 2-1. In the 77th minute, this 1m78 tall striker met a high cross and headed home to seal a 3-1 victory.
Mitoma has scored three goals in his first six Premier League games of 2023-24. The 26-year-old's strike rate has improved significantly from seven goals in 33 games last season. Mitoma scored his first goal of the season, a solo strike from midfield in a 4-1 win over Wolves.
Mitoma celebrates scoring the winning goal for Brighton against Bournemouth on the evening of September 24. Photo: Brighton
Before Mitoma's double against goalkeeper Neto, Brighton got off to a poor start when hosting Bournemouth. In the 25th minute, goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen seemingly gifted the visitors the opening goal when he lost the ball outside the penalty area, allowing Dominic Solanke to shoot into an empty net. This was Brighton's sixth goal conceded in their first six Premier League games this season. Including the loss to AEK Athens in the first round of the Europa League group stage, Brighton have conceded nine goals in seven games in all competitions.
However, Brighton soon regained control of the game. They started to play more effectively after Billy Gilmour's cross led to Milos Kerkez heading the ball into Bournemouth's own net, equalizing 1-1 in the 45+2 minute. Mitoma then shone to give the home team three points.
Brighton's 3-1 win over Bournemouth was their third in a row, and their fifth in the first six games of the Premier League season. They had previously beaten Luton Town 4-1, Wolves 4-1, lost 1-3 to West Ham, and beat Newcastle 3-1 and Man Utd 3-1. Brighton moved up from fifth to third with 15 points, just three behind leaders Man City and one behind second-placed Liverpool. Tottenham and Arsenal are both behind Brighton, with 14 points each.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth dropped to 17th place with three points. Spaniard Andoni Iraola's team is just two points ahead of newly promoted teams Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United.
Thanh Quy
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