Football: Freiburg's Doan nets 9th goal as Machino, Mitoma bag 8th
Japan attacker Ritsu Doan scored his ninth goal of the season in Freiburg's 3-2 home win over Hoffenheim in the German Bundesliga on Saturday, while Holstein Kiel's Shuto Machino and Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma in England both bagged their eighth goals of the campaign.
Doan gave his side a 2-0 lead in the 36th minute at Europa-Park Stadion with a low strike into the corner from 20 meters out. He also stood out by providing key passes in the buildup to Lucas Holer's 28th-minute opener from inside the box and 57th-minute tap-in winner.
Hoffenheim leveled through close-range strikes from Marius Bulter and Andrej Kramaric, both in the first-half stoppage time. But Freiburg secured three points and sit fifth on 48 points, a place and point off the Champions League qualification spot with four games left.
"I'm not feeling the pressure that I have to score more. I'm just thinking about helping the team," said Doan as he nears double figures in goals.
Forward Machino helped bottom club Kiel secure a creditable 1-1 draw away to fourth-place Leipzig, firing home a 44th-minute opener by completing a fine counter involving four players that began with Kiel goalkeeper Thomas Dahne.
Benjamin Sesko leveled for Leipzig in the 74th minute but Kiel claimed a precious point in a battle for survival as they sit three points off 16th, a promotion/relegation playoff spot.
"I was intent on sprinting behind the opposing defense. A goal has finally arrived," said Machino after netting for the first time since January. "Climbing up the table is the only way. I want to score and make the team win games."
Brighton's Mitoma is enjoying his most productive season in the Premier League as his goal in a 4-2 defeat at Brentford saw him better his seven goals from his debuting 2022-23 campaign.
Mitoma came on in the 65th minute soon after Joao Pedro was sent off for Brighton and cut the deficit to 3-2 in the 81st minute when the winger rolled home with his left foot off Jack Hinshelwood's through ball.
But the visitors failed to mount a further comeback and conceded late on instead. The Seagulls sit 10th after going five games without a win.
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