Satoshi Nakayama to Mito HollyHock

Mito has brought on board forward Satoshi Nakayama. He was a free agent practicing with the team for some time before being offered the spot.

He spent 10 years under contract to Gamba Osaka through 2008, and was contracted to Kumamoto last season. He's appeared in 179 J. League games and has scored 23 times. He played in the 2006 ACL with Osaka and previously played for several national youth and Olympic qualifying teams.

His strongest talent is scoring off set plays and crosses, so he fits in well with the current attacking system. He'll wear number 26.

Mito 0 - 1 Kumamoto

Mito played very poorly after the bye round to lose at home to Kumamoto. Honma had some great saves but the forwards were lagging.

Also unfortunately, even after having been featured on NHK and being on a nice Saturday afternoon, the crowd did not break 3000.

The next home match will be in an away atmosphere. JEF United Chiba plays its first match against Mito and will bring enough fans to homejack the stadium. Sponsor JR Railways has actually created a high speed train connecting Mito to a station near Chiba's home ground to run back and forth only for this match.

Practice match: Mito 1 - 5 Kashima

Mito took a selection of players, mostly subs, to play a private practice match against Kashima yesterday. Mito lost, as tends to happen.

Mito's goal was scored by Koike.

3 Times in 10 Games

Mito keeper Honma was again named the best J2 player for his role in the Toyama match. It's the 3rd time he's been so named in the still new season.

The last player with the same recognition was Tokyo Verdy's Hulk in 2007, although that took many more matches in the season to be accomplished.

It would be safe to assume that this will occur many more times this year.

http://www.jsgoal.jp/ss/index2.html

Mito 3 - 1 Yokohama

Mito 0 - 0 Toyama

Mito 0 - 4 Tokyo