Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma came on at halftime and scored a brace to guide Brighton to a 3-1 home win over Bournemouth in the English Premier League on Sunday while in Spain, Takefusa Kubo buried his fourth goal of the season for Real Sociedad.
After playing 86 minutes on Thursday in the Seagulls' 3-2 defeat to AEK Athens in the Europa League, Mitoma made his first start on the substitute bench this term but hit the winner within 15 seconds of his introduction before bagging another, taking his season's tally to three goals in the English top flight.
Brighton attacked straight from the second-half kick-off and fellow substitute Ansu Fati's pass into the box from the left was flicked on by Mahmoud Dahoud for Mitoma, who took a touch before poking into the bottom corner with the outside of his boot to make it 2-1.
Mitoma headed in Pervis Estupinan's left-wing cross for their third in the 77th minute to seal the tie at Amex Stadium.
"It was a really huge goal," Mitoma said of his first goal. "I think my team could start to relax after that."
"The team were on the back foot and I was thinking I'll definitely get a call at an early stage."
Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen's mistake allowed Dominic Solanke to lob the ball into the empty net for Bournemouth in the 25th minute but Milos Kerkez headed into his own net as the home side leveled in the first-half stoppage time.
The win moved Brighton up to third in the table on 15 points, behind reigning champions Manchester City who have 18 points after winning all six and Liverpool on 16.
Kubo continued his superb start to the season in La Liga, meanwhile, after netting the opener two minutes into their thrilling 4-3 home win over Getafe.
Brais Mendez skipped past a player before laying the ball off for Kubo down the right inside the box, and the Japan attacker curled his first-time effort inside the far post to give the home side the lead at Reale Arena.
Getafe turned it around through Carles Alena's 39th-minute header and Borja Mayoral's 50th-minute penalty, but Mikel Oyarzabal scored also from the spot to level in the 61st minute. Mendez's header then regained Sociedad's lead five minutes later before Oyarzabal lashed home his second two minutes from time, meaning Getafe's third through Juanmi Latasa's stoppage-time header wasn't enough.
Sociedad are eighth on nine points after six games in the Spanish top tier.
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