Tokyo Verdy 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 4
Brighton and Hove Albion won their final game at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo with two goals in each half although the hosts replied once in each half.
Jan Paul Van Hecke opened the scoring for the Albion from a Valentin Barco corner. The young Argentinian’s corner kick was played on by Joel Veltman.
Danny Welbeck pounced but his shot was blocked. The ball fell kindly for Van Hecke who eased it in.
The J1 League side replied three minutes later when Yudai Kimura smashed in a beautiful cross across the box from Hiroto Yamami.
Just before half-time, Ibrahim Osman and Welbeck started a move that ended with Yankuba Minteh running at the Tokyo Verdy defence and finishing the move with aplomb.
Albion made wholesale substitutions for the start of the second half, replacing all 10 outfield players.
And after the break, on 49 minutes, a great cross from Facundo Buonanotte was met at the far post by Simon Adingra to put Albion further ahead – as the Seagulls slung in crosses from wide positions.
Naoki Hayashi got another one back for the home side five minutes after Adingra’s goal, with a header from a free kick.
Brighton responded with a goal from the in-form Jeremy Sarmiento who rounded things off for Albion with his second of the tour and Albion’s fourth on the night.
It came after a terrific run by Buonanotte who took the ball from the half-way line to the penalty area where he was unable to finish his move. The ball bounced into Sarmiento’s path who struck cleanly and without hesitation.
Abdallah Sima, who spent last season on loan at Glasgow Rangers, played up front for Albion and looked a handful while young goalkeeper Killian Cahill replaced Jason Steele late in the second half.
The win follows a convincing 5-1 victory over the Kashima Antlers at the same venue on Wednesday (24 July).
Minteh opened the scoring after 15 minutes before something of a spree after the break when Sarmiento, Yasin Ayari and Amario Cozier-Duberry netted. Cozier-Duberry bagged a brace.
Homare Tokuda grabbed a late consolation goal for the eight times J League champions.
