BARCELONA (Kyodo) — Takefusa Kubo broke the deadlock with a stunning solo goal in the 80th minute to give Real Sociedad a 1-0 victory over Espanyol in the second round of Spain’s La Liga season on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Japanese playmaker secured the result for the visitors, opening the scoring of the season after coming off the bench in the 67th minute at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona.
Kubo received the ball near the right touchline, dribbled into the box and left two defenders behind before curling the ball past Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia into the opposite top corner.
Sociedad picked up their first points of the season after losing their opening game 2-1 at home to Rayo Vallecano.
Manager Imanol Alguacil said Kubo started the away game on the bench due to a “tactical decision” and was delighted with his performance.
“The goal gave us the win,” said Alguacil. “I hope he can maintain this form in every game.”
Elsewhere in Europe, Ritsu Doan scored for Freiburg in a 3-1 comeback home win over VfB Stuttgart in the first round of the German Bundesliga, while Shuto Machino scored his first goal for Holstein Kiel in a 3-2 defeat to Hoffenheim.
Doan broke the 1-1 tie at the Europa-Park Stadium in the 54th minute when he slotted home from close range. Lukas Kübler scored twice for the hosts.
In the English Premier League, Kaoru Mitoma assisted on Danny Welbeck’s first goal for Brighton in a 2-1 home win against Manchester United.
