Kaoru Mitoma’s goal against Chelsea on Friday has been hailed as “Messi-like” as the Brighton & Hove Albion winger’s outrageous control and skills set his team on their way to a 3-0 victory.
A long kick forward from Brighton's goalkeeper was brought down on the full to perfection by Mitoma, under pressure from Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah. With his next touch, the Japanese star took the ball inside Chalobah before whipping a low finish past Filip Jorgensen from just outside the box that the goalkeeper could only stand and watch.
Watch Mitoma's goal
“The touch is as good as anything we will see in the Premier League this season,” said former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, summarising Mitoma’s control of Bart Verbruggen’s kick for Sky Sports. “It’s Messi-like.”
Mitoma’s manager Fabian Hurzeler praised his “special talent” not for his skills but for his application in training even amid reports that Saudi club Al-Nassr were looking to sign him for a big fee at the end of the January transfer window.
“You don’t see regularly special things like this, but he works really hard,” Hurzeler said. “He’s fully committed to the club. He tries to improve himself every day. He is very professional and then on top of that he is able to do special things like this.
“If I look back on my career, I don’t know if I ever saw something like this as a coach from my own player, because it was very special.
“When the ball is coming over your head, then it starts with the co-ordination. To co-ordinate everything, the speed of the ball, the height of the ball and your legs is a special thing, because we shouldn’t underestimate that he was in a full sprint. I wouldn’t try it at home, but he has a special talent.”
Upturn in form
The goal also cemented an upturn in form for Mitoma. It was his third in his last five Premier League appearances, as many as in the 33 before that.
Furthermore, it was the second time in the space of eight days that he scored against Chelsea, after another brilliant piece of skill to claim the winner in the FA Cup fourth-round tie last Friday - this after failing to find the back of the net in his first five meetings with the Blues.
