Japanese striker Sota Hirayama made a dream debut for promoted Heracles Almelo when he came off the bench to head two late goals in the 2-1 win away to ADO Den Haag in the Dutch first division on Saturday.
Sota Hirayama of Heracles Almelo celebrates after scoring in the 77th minute of Saturday's
match against ADO Den Haag in the Netherlands. Hirayama scored again in the 84th minute as
Heracles Almelo won 2-1.
Athens Olympian Hirayama came on in the 75th minute with the visitor trailing Geert Den Ouden's opener and made an immediate impact as he headed home the equalizer from Marc Hocher's free-kick.
The towering 20-year-old then scored with another header after a corner had been headed back across the goal to give Heracles victory with six minutes remaining.
"Obviously it's great to produce a result like this today and I will do everything I can to keep delivering results," said Hirayama. "I am so grateful to Heracles for signing me."
Verdy held to draw
New Brazilian manager Vadao was denied victory in his first league match in charge of struggling Tokyo Verdy after a late own goal from Takahito Soma handed visiting Omiya Ardija a 1-1 draw in the J. League first division on Sunday.
In the day's other game, goals in each half from Seiichiro Maki and Naotake Hanyu earned JEF United Chiba local bragging rights with a 2-1 win away to Kashiwa Reysol in a match that saw both sides finish with 10 men.
Verdy's leading scorer Washington finished off a slick three-man move in the 10th minute for his 13th goal of the season.
But Soma, attempting to cut out a cross from the left, put the ball in the back of Verdy's net with 13 minutes remaining.