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

Mito 1 - 1 Toyama

Nothing to see here, with Yoshihara scoring the first goal via PK and Toyama tying it up in the second half.

The draw is disappointing but others near the top did also, and this game was played without Arata and two starting defenders (who can also score goals). Kumamoto's this match this weekend will be a bit more important and a win will be really big before going against Osaka next.

2009 Emperor's Cup

Mito is the first seeded team to learn one of its potential non-seeded opponents, as the university tournament finished last weekend, a couple of weeks before prefecture tournaments wrap up.

Mito's potential matches will be against, assuming winning each match:

-Fukuoka University or the Hokkaido representative.

-likely Gamba Osaka

-likely Sanfrecce Hiroshima or Sagan Tosu

And going any further than that would be kind of a big deal.

Mito 0 - 1 Shonan

Mito are still in 5th but now 8 points behind the promotion zone as the referee's good graces smiled upon Shonan Bellmare.

Defender Owada was given a straight red card in the first half for literally turning around and bumping into a Shonan player who jumped to the ground, after Arata received his 4th yellow of the year for being near a tripping Shonan player. So not only will both be out of the next match against Toyama, Arata needed to come off and be replaced by a defender to fill up the gap in the back. Less than one half game played in two possible as a result. While warming up in the second half, Mito forward Yoshihara yelled his displeasure from the side while watching one of many instances of poor calls and was rewarded with a yellow card as well.

Nothing against Shonan's ability. Their goal by Jean was very well placed and they would have had more if not for keeper Honma's consistent saving. It also surely would have been two goals if an earlier one wasn't cancelled due to an offside violation. Head official Noda was ready to call it, but the linesman wouldn't let the offside flag budge.

Mito could still show great tenacity and made it one of the most exciting games on a day of several good ones. Keeper Honma even played as a forward in the final two minutes in an attempt to secure the equalizer from free kicks and corner kicks. Shonan fans were very relieved, Mito fans were very upset, but I'm sure anyone watching was very entertained.

Koji Honma Named Most Impressive Player for July

J. Leauge information site J's Goal has named Mito goalkeeper Honma as the most impressive player for July. He guided Mito through an unbeaten month by allowing only one goal in the month's six matches.

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 3 - 1 Tochigi

Mito's 2nd 3-1 game in a row and 2nd 3-goal game against Tochigi this year.

The outcome was never really in doubt with the difference in team strength apparent. The only complaint I could have was that my responsibilities at the stadium kept me from being able to see the PK foul against forward Takasaki and Endo's goal in the second half.

Takasaki's PK along with Endo's goal and Arata's assist into Morimura's tap-in made for the second game in a row that had Mito up by 3. Tochigi, like Tosu before, was able to get a consolation in near the end of the game.

Mito is still in 5th and slowly closing in on those above. The promotion spots are as little as two wins away. For the first time this late in a season, Mito has won most of its games, with 16 wins out of 31 matches.

Coming up next is Shonan, and despite the last meeting resulting in a 1-5 loss, it would be hard to guess a winner seeing Mito's return of injured players and Shonan's current slump against even very weak teams. If Mito wins on Wednesday, Mito has a very real shot at promotion, beyond the dreams of years past and the hopes of the season up to this point. For the remaining 20 games, Mito would only need to keep a slightly better record than 3 teams out of Tokyo, Shonan, Kofu, Sendai, and Osaka. With Tokyo it has been possible and Shonan seems likely if current trends continue. All it takes is for one of the top three to slip up a bit in the last third.