Mito 2 - 1 Toyama

Mito's first match against newly promoted Toyama turned out to be a nailbiter. It seemed that the streak of draws would continue as the game came to a close, but the last offensive play of the game saved it.

While Toyama was outclassed offensively it was tenacious defensively, and both teams shared only 7 shots in the first half. Fortunately for Mito fans one of those resulted in a goal from Arata. A long ball was successively headed forward and landed in front of a speeding Arata who toe-kicked it into the cross bar, bouncing down and inward for the goal. The second half showed a more intense Toyama that played more aggressively to tie it up. They would eventually do so, with Mito's defense bundled together too much and a free Toyama forward made contact to knock it in. Both teams successfully shut down the other and very close to the final whistle, a Toyama player collected a second yellow to be sent off. Unlike the Gifu match, though, that team would not overcome the odds to score in the final minute. Instead, mito's free kick as a result of the foul bounced off a Toyama player, fell sloppily in the middle of four unguarded Mito players directly in front of the goal, and Arata just kicked it directly past the keeper as if it were target practice; the shot looked like a penalty kick with the keeper not knowing it was coming. Less than a minute later the final whistle would blow and Mito had the win.

Unfortunately, Kofu would top Yokohama by one more goal, and now holds third place over Mito via goal difference. Fortunately for Mito the streak of quality play continues: 8 straight matches scoring goals, 8 straight matches of taking the lead at some point (with 7 of 8 matches scoring first), and now unbeaten in 7 straight matches. While spectacular for the club this is standard practice for the strongest teams in the division and it will have to continue for the entire 51 match season for Mito to remain a top club. This will become more difficult as traditionally strong clubs are coming up and as many other teams splurge to get their perfunctory mid season foreign striker.