Mito Hollyhock beat Kashima Antlers 4-2 in a J.League match defined by one remarkable individual display. Arata Watanabe scored all four of Mito's goals, the first arriving after just eight minutes and the third putting them 3-0 up by the 48th minute.
Watanabe opened the scoring in the 8th minute, doubled the lead in the 21st and completed his hat-trick in the 48th, with Yoshiki Torikai assisting two of them. Kashima's Léo Ceará pulled one back in the 53rd minute, but Watanabe restored Mito's three-goal cushion within two minutes, scoring again in the 55th. Ceará added a second for Kashima in the 83rd minute, but Mito held on comfortably.
The scoreline flattered Kashima in terms of territory: they had 76% possession, 16 shots to Mito's seven and completed 721 passes. Mito, though, were ruthless, scoring four goals from five shots on target, with Watanabe's four-goal haul the decisive difference. Mito's goalkeeper made three saves as Kashima's pressure rarely translated into clear reward.
