Kaoru Mitoma rewrote the record for most goals by a Japanese football player in the English Premier League on Sunday as he starred for Brighton and Hove Albion in a 3-1 victory away to Manchester United.

The Samurai Blue winger netted for the second match in a row to bring his season tally to five and Premier League career total to 15, surpassing the 14 Shinji Okazaki struck for Leicester.

Mitoma assisted on the opening goal of the contest at Old Trafford, unselfishly setting up Yankuba Minteh in the fifth minute after beating the offside trap with a storming run down the left.

After Bruno Fernandes leveled for the hosts from the penalty spot later in the first half, Mitoma reached the career milestone while restoring Brighton’s lead in the 60th minute, this time with Minteh providing the assist.

With the visitors surging forward in attack, the Gambian winger lofted a ball from the right side to the far post, where it was volleyed home by Mitoma as he held off a defender.

Substitute Georginio Rutter sealed the win when he capitalized on a mistake by United goalkeeper Andre Onana and tapped in Brighton’s third in the 76th minute.

The victory was the Seagulls’ sixth in seven meetings with United, taking them to 34 points in ninth place and keeping them among the contenders for a European berth.

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