The Japanese winger’s breathtaking volley against Tottenham sparked a crucial resurgence for Brighton, underscoring his vital role in the Seagulls’ ambitious late-season push for European qualification.
Kaoru Mitoma has been awarded Match of the Day goal of the month. His stunning volley with his weaker left foot pulled Albion back into a difficult game at Tottenham.
How did we get to this position?
Despite their recent 3-1 defeat up at St James Park against Newcastle at the turn of the month, Brighton and Hove Albion had a stunning April.
Albion's impressive form in the month, with two wins and a draw, handed them an unbeaten month. A stark contrast to the past form under Fabian Hürzeler.
The Seagulls were desperate for an upturn in results, with the likelihood of European football becoming less and less.
With that being said, some of the results were helped by individual brilliance. The Brighton squad is known for its depth in quality, and one of the leading members of that squad is Kaoru Mitoma.
Mitoma’s goal at Spurs could go down as one of the best to be scored this season for Brighton. The technique of his volley wasn’t conventional, but vintage Mitoma.
Just enough of a connection to hit the ball sweetly, despite being a side footed effort.
The ball flew past Kinsky shortly before halftime. In truth, it was a game Albion had struggled in up until that point. On multiple occasions, the Japanese star has pulled Albion through tough games. This was just another goal to add to his ongoing collection.
His time at Brighton has been very underrated by the grand scheme of world football, and his common perception is considerably lower than his output ability has provided over several years.
Mitoma could be the difference between Albion reaching Europe and not, and this award is the tip of the iceberg to his career and value to Brighton since his £2.5 million arrival back in 2021.