Mitoma scores and Ayari starts as Brighton internationals impress
Brighton players enjoyed a good start to the September international break with Kaoru Mitoma and Yasin Ayari taking the headlines.
Mitoma was in sensational form as Japan racked up a 7-0 win over China in World Cup qualifying. He played for an hour, leaving the stage when the Samurai Blue were 4-0 ahead at the Saitama Stadium having scored the second goal and assisted the third.
The Japanese Bullet strain got on the score sheet in first half stoppage time via a header, reminding everyone that although Mitoma is known for his quick feet and dribbling ability, he is also bloody good in the air.
Ritsu Doan crossed from one the right flank and Mitoma arrived at the far post from the other, heading downwards and across China goalkeeper Wang Dalei.
His assist came when he slipped in Takumi Minamino with a clever pass. Minamino then displayed Mitoma-like skills to glide inside a couple of defenders and finish. Maybe he also wrote a university thesis on dribbling?
Defeat did not go down well in China. It was the nation’s heaviest ever in World Cup qualifying and has led to calls for head coach Branko Ivanovic to be sacked.
One person even went so far as to write about the team on Chinese social media site Weibo: “There is no point in spending the most money on this useless project.” Which could of course be applied to Chelsea.
Ayari meanwhile was rewarded for his impressive start to the 2024-25 season by being named in the starting XI as Sweden won 3-1 away against Azerbaijan in the Nations League.
He played for 71 minutes and made the second-highest number of key passes for the Swedes, after a certain Viktor Gyokeres.
Remember him? Gyokeres scored one and and set up another for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, who bagged a brace.
Bart Verbruggen maintained his place as Netherlands number one as the Dutch defeated Bosnia & Herzegovina 5-2 in Eindhoven.
Jan Paul van Hecke was an unused substitute after receiving his first call up to the Netherlands squad. Having not been thrown in against Bosnia, it seems unlikely Van Hecke will play in the Netherlands’ next game away against Germany.
Jakub Moder played his first competitive football of the season when coming off the bench as Poland hilariously defeated Scotland 3-2 via an injury time winner.
Moder was introduced in the 82nd minute, meaning he was on the pitch when Nicola Zalewski converted the 97th minute penalty which sent the Tartan Army to Nations League defeat.
Like Moder, Evan Ferguson also took to the pitch for the first time in 2024-25. He came off the bench in the 82nd minute as the Republic of Ireland were beaten 2-0 by England.
Two players with Irish roots got the goals. Declan Rice struck first, followed by Jack Grealish. Well done to Chris Kavanagh for sending Rice off against the Albion last Saturday and giving him a much-needed rest so he was fully refreshed to strike at the Aviva Stadium.
It meant Lee Carsley oversaw an impressive win in his first game in interim charge of England. Who knew that a manager who doesn’t sing the national anthem could be so successful?
Three Brighton players were involved in African Cup of Nations qualifying. Yankubu Minteh started for Gambia in their 1-1 draw away against Comoros.
Tariq Lamptey got through 90 minutes unscathed for Ghana. It was not a good night for the Black Stars, however, as they went down to a shock 1-0 home defeat to Angola.
Simon Adingra set up the first goal for Ivory Coast as the AFCON champions defeated Zambia 2-0. Adingra teed up Jean-Philippe Krasso for the first of his two goals.
In South America, World Cup qualifying is now underway. Pervis Estupinan and Jeremy Sarmiento both played for Ecuador in their 1-0 loss to Brazil.
Sarmiento was hauled at half time whilst Estupinan completed 85 minutes. Joao Pedro was an unused sub for Brazil, wearing the number 21 shirt.
Paraguay and Uruguay played out a 0-0 draw with Julio Enciso only taking 122 shots from distance. Future Brighton signing Diego Gomez also started for Paraguay, giving an all-action display in midfield.
