Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Basel: Japan international Yoichiro Kakitani scored his first goal in the Swiss Super League when the 24-year-old came off the bench to net FC Basel's third in their 4-1 win over FC Zurich.
Kakitani, who joined the defending Swiss champions after scoring 21 times Cerezo Osaka last season, entered the fray 61 minutes into Saturday's match at the St. Jakob Park to replace opening scorer Shekelzen Gashi and got his first goal for his new employers 13 minutes later to put FC Basel 3-1 up.
Kakitani then had a hand in the final goal with the 2006 AFC U17 Championship MVP setting up fellow substitute Matias Delgado as the Argentine midfielder, who re-joined FC Basel after a lengthy spell in the UAE with Al Jazira, scored number four with four minutes left to play.
"It's nice that I could achieve this goal and gain the recognition of teammates and fans. I am very happy here," Kakitani told the online version of Swiss media outlet Blick.
Kakitani made two appearances in Japan's disappointing 2014 FIFA World Cup finals having impressed in his first tournament for the senior side when he scored twice in three games to help the Samurai Blue win the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup and will be hoping that his impressive form in Switzerland can continue, with new Japan boss Javier Aguirre preparing a squad to defend their AFC Asian Cup crown next year in Australia.
Photo: AFP