Mito played incredibly poorly but still pulled out a win thanks to an early Romero Frank goal.
The win brings Mito to a 4 game winning streak. Mito is now third place, less than a game behind leaders Shonan and Yamagata.
03 May 2012
30 April 2012
Mito 2 - 1 Tokushima
Mito's win today brings the team it's second 3-game win streak of the season, coming from goals by Kato and Nishioka.
Honma made several huge saves to secure the victory, and to preserve Mito's record as the team with the fewest goals allowed in the league. Tokushima's sole goal came from a late PK.
Honma made several huge saves to secure the victory, and to preserve Mito's record as the team with the fewest goals allowed in the league. Tokushima's sole goal came from a late PK.
28 April 2012
Mito 2 - 1 Shonan
Mito handed Shonan Bellmare its first loss this season with a respectable performance.
Both teams made few mistakes, but Mito took advantage of their chances one time more than Shonan. Early in the match Romero Frank scored his first of the year to put the visitors ahead, and just before the half finished Shonan's Kenji Baba evened things up. In the last ten minutes, Mito's Yuki Shimada, who is having a good year so far, chipped in a goal at close range for what would be the winning play of the game.
Shonan is still in first and would have been so no matter the result, but Mito only moves up to 6th as most of the top teams won as well. Mito has 5 wins out of the first 10 matches for the first time. Only one season, 2008, saw more wins than losses, but if staying on track, winning half the games this season would be a huge confidence step and also likely be good enough to secure a playoff spot. The first 10 matches included not just Shonan but also Fukuoka and Yamagata who were playing in J1 last year, and Mito could obtain 5 points in the standings in these matches which is fairly big.
Also with this win, Mito takes the UFJC Title.
Both teams made few mistakes, but Mito took advantage of their chances one time more than Shonan. Early in the match Romero Frank scored his first of the year to put the visitors ahead, and just before the half finished Shonan's Kenji Baba evened things up. In the last ten minutes, Mito's Yuki Shimada, who is having a good year so far, chipped in a goal at close range for what would be the winning play of the game.
Shonan is still in first and would have been so no matter the result, but Mito only moves up to 6th as most of the top teams won as well. Mito has 5 wins out of the first 10 matches for the first time. Only one season, 2008, saw more wins than losses, but if staying on track, winning half the games this season would be a huge confidence step and also likely be good enough to secure a playoff spot. The first 10 matches included not just Shonan but also Fukuoka and Yamagata who were playing in J1 last year, and Mito could obtain 5 points in the standings in these matches which is fairly big.
Also with this win, Mito takes the UFJC Title.
23 April 2012
Mito 1 - 0 Kusatsu
Mito won the first North Kanto derby match yesterday at home. The only goal came from Shiotani's pitching in of a keeper cleared ball.
Takayuki Suzuki was sent off in the second half with a direct red card from an errant elbow and a Kusatsu player flopping. Minutes later a Kusatsu player would get his second yellow to even things out. Honestly both red cards were at best halfway deserved.
The next match could end up being the biggest challenge of the year. Away at undefeated Shonan would be massive to come away with a win.
Takayuki Suzuki was sent off in the second half with a direct red card from an errant elbow and a Kusatsu player flopping. Minutes later a Kusatsu player would get his second yellow to even things out. Honestly both red cards were at best halfway deserved.
The next match could end up being the biggest challenge of the year. Away at undefeated Shonan would be massive to come away with a win.
17 April 2012
11 April 2012
Mito 0 - 1 Chiba
Former coach Kiyama came back to Mito and won a tough match.
Mito coach Hashiratani was sent off by the official near the end of the match.
Mito coach Hashiratani was sent off by the official near the end of the match.
31 March 2012
Ju Hyun Hwang to Mito HollyHock
Newly graduated from high school in Korea, midfielder Ju Hyun Hwang has joined the team.
26 March 2012
Mito 0 - 0 Matsumoto
Mito played to a hard draw against newly promoted Matsumoto on a rainy Saturday. Mito played better the whole match but couldn't close the deal with any goals.
The team is still in a playoff space after 5 games and 3ponts off the leaders, but a win here would have made a huge difference in the standings with the packed room at the top in the early season.
The team is still in a playoff space after 5 games and 3ponts off the leaders, but a win here would have made a huge difference in the standings with the packed room at the top in the early season.
20 March 2012
Mito 0 - 1 Kitakyushu
Mito's first loss came hard-fought, as Kitakyushu played scrappier and took a goal from a deflected shot.
Manager Hashiratani took a gamble, bringing a starting squad to Okayama and having the team stay in western Japan on borrowed practice fields. While a better option than traveling for 8-10 hours 4 times in 3 days, Mito clearly had less gas in the tank for this one.
While disappointing, if the team knew that the season would start with 3 wins out of 4 it would have been a positive prognostication.
Mito must beat newly promoted Matsumoto at home on Saturday to keep from sinking into the mediocrity that has haunted the team almost every year after a promising start.
Manager Hashiratani took a gamble, bringing a starting squad to Okayama and having the team stay in western Japan on borrowed practice fields. While a better option than traveling for 8-10 hours 4 times in 3 days, Mito clearly had less gas in the tank for this one.
While disappointing, if the team knew that the season would start with 3 wins out of 4 it would have been a positive prognostication.
Mito must beat newly promoted Matsumoto at home on Saturday to keep from sinking into the mediocrity that has haunted the team almost every year after a promising start.
18 March 2012
Mito 3 - 0 Okayama
Mito won away at Okayama in a big way, starting the season on a three game win streak for the first time in club history.
The first two goals were scored by Takayuki Suzuki, bringing him to three goals this season. Hashimoto took the third goal which is his first as a professional player.
The first two goals were scored by Takayuki Suzuki, bringing him to three goals this season. Hashimoto took the third goal which is his first as a professional player.
11 March 2012
Mito 1 - 0 Toyama
Mito defeated Toyama with the only goal of the game. Ozawa scored off a keeper mishandle, scoring in both games so far.
With this win, Mito has now lost fewer than half of all league matches since entering the pro ranks.
With this win, Mito has now lost fewer than half of all league matches since entering the pro ranks.
05 March 2012
Mito 2 - 1 Yokohama
It was almost bitterly cold, but the players didn't show it with both sides fighting hard.
After going behind 10 minutes into the match, Mito fought back to win in the second half. Goals were taken by Ozawa (in a great diving header) and Shimada. Takayuki Suzuki and Romero Frank both played well.
After going behind 10 minutes into the match, Mito fought back to win in the second half. Goals were taken by Ozawa (in a great diving header) and Shimada. Takayuki Suzuki and Romero Frank both played well.
03 March 2012
Mito 0 - 1 Kashima
It was a dreary day last Saturday and the 2012 Ibaraki Soccer Festival played out in cold drizzle with heavy pools of water collected on the field to hamper play.
While this helped Mito to a best-ever result against Kashima, it wasn't the most exciting game for the soggy spectator.
Hopefully tomorrow's opening match against the visiting Yokohama FC will see better results and better conditions.
While this helped Mito to a best-ever result against Kashima, it wasn't the most exciting game for the soggy spectator.
Hopefully tomorrow's opening match against the visiting Yokohama FC will see better results and better conditions.
07 December 2011
Emperor's Cup Match December 17
Mito will take on J2 champions FC Tokyo at home on Saturday, December 17, in the 4th round of the Emperor's Cup.
Manager Hashiratani stated that his goal was to win the Cup this year. It's an odd goal as opposed to league placement prediction, but so far he's done something no Mito fan has seen... Two straight victories against teams playing in J1 next year (Sapporo and Gamba Osaka), and with the win at Osaka, it was Mito's first defeat of a J1 side in a sanctioned match in the club's history.
If anything, Tokyo shouldn't be as rough as the Osaka match, but Mito couldn't beat Tokyo this year (although the home match was close to a draw). Not many would expect Mito to win this match but the same could have been said for the previous two...
In any case, after an exciting year in Japan's leagues, those wanting more still have good matches to check out on the 17th and beyond in the tournament. Of course my recommendation would be to visit K's Stadium, or to catch the game on SkyPerfecTV! as matches from the 4th round will be televised. This will be the only match not to feature a 2011 J1 side so the winner could be the last representative from outside the top division remaining.
Manager Hashiratani stated that his goal was to win the Cup this year. It's an odd goal as opposed to league placement prediction, but so far he's done something no Mito fan has seen... Two straight victories against teams playing in J1 next year (Sapporo and Gamba Osaka), and with the win at Osaka, it was Mito's first defeat of a J1 side in a sanctioned match in the club's history.
If anything, Tokyo shouldn't be as rough as the Osaka match, but Mito couldn't beat Tokyo this year (although the home match was close to a draw). Not many would expect Mito to win this match but the same could have been said for the previous two...
In any case, after an exciting year in Japan's leagues, those wanting more still have good matches to check out on the 17th and beyond in the tournament. Of course my recommendation would be to visit K's Stadium, or to catch the game on SkyPerfecTV! as matches from the 4th round will be televised. This will be the only match not to feature a 2011 J1 side so the winner could be the last representative from outside the top division remaining.
Mito 1 - 2 Chiba
Mito finishes the season out in 17th place. Not good by any means, but there isn't much difference between the middle and bottom part of the table this year.
Next up, Mito tries to advance in the Emperor's Cup.
Next up, Mito tries to advance in the Emperor's Cup.
Mito 0 - 1 Tochigi
With this win, Tochigi wins the North Kanto Derby trophy for the first time, following Mito winning the first two editions previously.
30 October 2011
Mito 2 - 2 Kusatsu
A very good match but rough for Mito fans. Kusatsu's drawing goal came in the 88th minute by Nakamura, who played for years for Mito until this season.
If Mito defeats Tochigi next month, Mito wins the North Kanto Derby. If it is a draw, Mito can still win if Kusatsu later beats Tochigi or draws at 1-1 or 0-0. If Tochigi wins they win it all.
Statistics are fun!
If Mito defeats Tochigi next month, Mito wins the North Kanto Derby. If it is a draw, Mito can still win if Kusatsu later beats Tochigi or draws at 1-1 or 0-0. If Tochigi wins they win it all.
Statistics are fun!
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