Mito 1 - 3 Gifu

Mito is now 4 games without a win with an uninspired performance only slightly better than the Tochigi match. At least in this match Mito played solidly if unspectacularly for most of the first match and the last stretch of the second, but chances went largely unfulfilled. Mito's goal came from Takasaki with only a few minutes to go as Yoshihara juked past a Gifu defender, crossed into the penalty area, and Takasaki headed a bouncing shot that curled in as if thrown by a cricket bowler. This lit a fire under the Mito side to try to score the tying goal, but in that exuberance they allowed Gifu's last, game securing goal in injury time.

While Tosu won to move past Mito on goal difference, Mito was fortunate to have both Kofu and Shonan lose this round. The point gap for 3rd place is the same as it was before the loss, and still Mito can be promoted by winning 3 games more than Kofu and Shonan in the home stretch and having a better record than Tosu. The Tosu match coming up on Wednesday at Kasamatsu becomes huge and a win there would keep Mito in the race. A Tosu win, combined with top team wins, could end that hope. Although statistically any team in the top 12 right now is mathematically possible for promotion.

One of the reasons for the less than clockwork performance could be the travel. Because of the traffic expected on the long holiday, the team did not travel by bus on the highway but woke up early and took the express train and first bullet train toward Nagoya. I would find out later that the players were less than perfectly rested and comfortable.

Yoshiahara would be very charismatic and entertaining (although not very insightful) as guest on the After Game Show on SkyPerfecTV which also featured lots of Mito information.

Forward Yoshihara on TV Tonight

Mito forward Kota Yoshihara will be a guest on tonight's J. League After Game Show on SkyPerfecTV, broadcast after the final game of the day wraps up.

Public Viewing at Aeon Mall in Uchihara

Today's game at Gifu will be broadcast live at Mito's Uchihara Aeon Mall. There will be no charge to watch, of course, and a few plusses make this a bit more worthwhile than previous viewings in Kasama or Hitachinaka:

-2 players will be present, and will also have a signing.

-A museum style display of all uniforms since the JFL days will be set up.

-The first 20 people who sign up for SkyPerfecTV will receive a signed practice shirt.

So those who can't make the long drive to Gifu and don't have SkyPerfecTV can go see the game for free, sign up for SkyPerfecTV, and be motivated to do things like drive to Gifu to watch a game!

Mito 0 - 2 Tochigi

Due to the larger than usual number of people needing to leave soon after the match ended, there was a shuffle of the staff and I staffed the cheap seats for the first time in more than a year. On the plus side, I could finally join the cheering section for at least a small part of the game. On the minus side, I could clearly see the poor play that led to this poor result.

It was vintage Mito, which is not a good thing. Earlier in the year there were bad losses, giving up 5 runs, but those were with injured squads against top level teams. This was the first loss against a traditionally weak team this year where Mito's poor play outweighed the other team's effort, at least since the first match's loss at Ehime. Shimoda is out with a leg injury, but yesterday's starters were the choice line-up at the beginning of the season. On Tochigi's part, they have been on a good run since picking up Leandro, but he alone doesn't make the team much stronger than the teams Mito could not beat in the two previous matches.

From the field level (which is very hard to follow) and from the sound of the crowd when out of view it was clear that Tochigi was playing better than Mito in the first half. In the second half, I could see why. Both on the attack and in defense, there were more Tochigi players in front of the goal than Mito players. It would pay off for them in the second half as the player with a foot on the ball could pop it in for both goals.

Along with the previous two draws, this is the turning point for Mito's promotion chances. The team has to start winning again to take advantage of any slip up in the top teams. There is now an 8 point gap between Mito and the promotion spots with 11 matches left to play. Even if Mito would still be in 5th, two more losses against weak teams would probably make the run for promotion a 4 horse race.

Takasaki Named Most Impressive Player for August

J. League information site J's Goal has named Mito forward Takasaki as the most impressive player for August. He played a great month topped by a hat trick at home against Okayama.

This is the first time Mito has had two months in a row of having this web award, after keeper Honma won it last month.

The trophy presentation ceremony photo and interview will take place shortly and be posted at the following site:

http://www.jsgoal.jp/mip/index.html#j2

Mito 1 - 1 Yokohama

Despite skirting with the lowest place in the standings, Yokohama is now one of the very few teams Mito could not defeat at least once this year.

It was very painful for Mito fans who had braced for one more draw, until defender Suzuki crossed the ball right into Arata for an injury time header. Mito players and fans celebrated but the celebration ended in the 5th minute of injury time, as Yokohama managed a drawing goal in the last second of the game.

Players, fans, and coach Kiyama all yelled at the official after the game for at first announcing 4 minutes of injury time, then allowing 5 and a half minutes, letting Yokohama get two more chances to score before blowing the final whistle. Of course, the decision is final, but it is still very unfortunate. Luckily for the second round in a row other top teams would draw and the gap to 3rd place is the same.

The next match on Sunday at Kasamatsu against Tochigi should be a nice bounce back, unless they can extend their unlikely warm streak an extra week. Mito needs to win to have a chance to make movements toward the top 4. Mito needs at least a draw to secure the North Kanto trophy which would be Mito's first title of any type. If Mito loses, there is a chance that the team could drop to 6th place for the first time in a long time.

Mito 1 - 1 Sapporo

Mito fought hard and played well against a determined home Sapporo side and came back with a draw. It marked the second game in a row where Mito came back after allowing the first goal. After Sapporo scored in the 51st minute, Kota Yoshihara hit a great header about 10 minutes later to even it up.

It would have been a good game to win with Shonan and Kofu both drawing, but with Sapporo being the toughest team any of the top 6 teams had to face this round, it marks a potential important step.

Next match is at Yokohama on Sunday, and ironically in Mito's best season, the team has yet to beat Yokohama in their most tragic year. This will be the last chance and will be vital to keep promotion a chance, with still only 5 points below the promotion area.

Everybody Likes Stickers

The club has reached a deal to put stickers on all 3000 taxis in Ibaraki prefecture, advertising the final three home games that will christen the new K's Denki Stadium Mito. They will also be available for sale at games and the official shops for 200 yen so supporters can donate a little while at the same time helping to promote the matches.

I plan on getting a new car this month, so perhaps I'll get two!

Mito 4 - 2 Okayama

It was a much hairier game than expected last night as Mito would twice have to come from behind. A great second half saw forward Takasaki's first professional hat trick to secure the win and keep Mito within striking distance of the top spots. Defender and captain Owada had a great goal to tie it up initially but it was overshadowed by Mito's 4th ever hat trick... and the 3rd this year, following Arata (also against Okayama) and Endo (in the 5-0 win against Fukuoka).

I couldn't see much of the game due to stadium responsibilities and taking part in a segment promoting the stadium staff, which aired during the SkyPerfecTV broadcast in halftime. That was the first time I could be seen in a recognizable capacity.

Here is a bonus picture of Holly-kun looking much thinner in the costume changing room.

Catching Up With a Few in Iwaki

On Saturday I drove to Fukushima's southernmost city for the semi-finals of that prefecture's Emperor's Cup representative tournament. I went to meet with Koji Fukasawa as well as to see former Mito players now with Fukushima United FC. Naoya Ohashi, former youth player who became a reserve, was in the stands watching. Yu Tokisaki was coaching on the sideline and Ki-Su Kim would end up playing off the bench. He came on after a very gruesome injury to another player, where the ankle bone was unnaturally visible through the skin. Kim would then be substituted before the end of the first half.

Fukushima United defeated their opponents, Fukushima University, allowing only a single dodgy PK to make the final score 4-1. They were much more efficient in yesterday's match, beating local fan favorites Bandits Iwaki by a score of 10-0. They play Shobi University in the first round of the Cup itself.

Mito Stadium Renamed

Although speculated for some time Mito's stadium naming rights have been sold. From now, the stadium will be known as:

"K's Denki Stadium Mito" (shortened Japanese: "K’sスタ")

The deal is big for the city, at 1,281,500,000 yen (about $13 million). The rights will last through March of 2015.

Mito 1 - 0 Osaka

After the narrow loss at Shonan and the disappointing draw with Toyama, Mito again had the full squad against Kumamoto for the win and again at the biggest win of the year last night in Osaka.

Osaka was the stronger team for most of the match in almost all areas but Mito's defense and goalkeeping shut out any chance for the team to score, and this round Mito was actually helped for once by the official, who loved flashing yellow cards everywhere except in the penalty areas. On two occasions Osaka forward Kagawa had a reason to argue very controversial tackles while approaching Mito's goal.

Osaka's defense was just as tenacious, and Mito scored by taking advantage of its only real mistake, as midfielder Kikuoka dashed impressively toward a passed ball and tapped it to an undefended Takasaki. One quick pass back and forth between them and Takasaki kicked it hard between the keeper's legs for the game's goal.

Beating Osaka is always a big deal but to do it in this situation, where Mito is chasing a promotion spot while Osaka is 1st place, is the best possible start for the last third of the season. Tonight is Shonan and Sendai which is similarly big, and both teams should be happy with Mito's win. They could repay Mito by drawing tonight, and keeping Mito not only 2 wins out of promotion territory... but first place. Watching last night's game, there is no reason to think the current winning streak can't continue. Mito has only lost one match in the last eleven, and that was 0-1 while playing one man down to Shonan. The last loss before that was narrowly to Osaka, and Mito doesn't have to worry about them any more this season. As Arata's case earlier this year showed, though, an injury to any starter could mean the difference between top 3 and mid level.

Mito 3 - 1 Kumamoto