It could be Oliver Atom, Steve Hyuga or Tom Misaki, some of the best players in the iconic 'Super Champions' anime series.
But this Sunday the front pages of England were for the Japanese
Kaoru Mitoma
, who with a movement worthy of a video game made the Argentine world champion
Alexis Mac Allister
and all of
Brighton
celebrate , who eliminated the current champion Liverpool from the FA Cup, the tournament longest-serving club in the world.
It was one more punishment for the 'Reds' in a gray season, with the Champions League duel against Real Madrid in sight.
Far from success in the Premier League, Jurgen Klopp's team leaves the Cup with more pain than glory.
The champion never gave the feeling of having the game under control and was punished at the last minute, with a great resolution from Mitoma, who masterfully finished off a cross from the left by Ecuadorian Pervis Estupiñán.
The Japanese, the best player in the match, lowered the ball, raised it again and, with the ball in the air, hit a volley that spiked high, impossible for the Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
The free kick that led to that agonizing goal for the local team had been generated by Mac Allister, who once again had an outstanding performance in the team led by the Italian
Roberto De Zerbi
.
Brighton is living a dream season by being in sixth position in the Premier and now advancing to the round of 16 of the FA Cup.
Not even when they took advantage after half an hour did Liverpool give a feeling of superiority.
It was an isolated action in an open clash.
A good run from Egypt's Mohamed Salah down the right ended with a pass to Harvey Elliott, who had no trouble getting past goalkeeper Jason Steele on his way out.
The 'red' goal did not reflect any superiority for the visitors, who conceded the tie five minutes from the intermission, after a poor clearance by Joe Gomez that reached, outside the area, Tariq Lamptey, who fired a long shot that touched his teammate Lewis Dunk and confused Alisson.
It was the tie.
The clash, without clear chances for either, was destined for a 'replay', a tiebreaker at Anfield.
However, when least expected came the local goal, the comeback.
In a set piece on the three-quarter line that brought the play to Estupiñán, the Ecuadorian found Mitoma at the far post, who rounded off his performance with a great goal, the winner, which qualified Brighton to the round of 16 and knocked out the champion.
Liverpool does not raise its head
.
FA Cup results and schedule
Friday
Manchester City 1 - Arsenal 0
Saturday
Walsall (D4) 0 - Leicester 1
Accrington Stanley (D3) 1 - Leeds United 3
Southampton 2 - Blackpool (D2) 1
Ipswich Town (D3) 0 - Burnley (D2) 0 (replay)
Luton Town (D2) 2 - Grimsby Town (D4) 2 (replay)
Blackburn (D2) 2 - Birmingham (D2) 2 (replay)
Sheffield Wednesday (D3) 1 - Fleetwood Town (D3) 1 (replay)
Bristol City (D2) 3 - West Brom (D2) 0
Fulham 1 - Sunderland (D2) 1 (replay)
Preston North End (D2) 0 - (+) Tottenham 3
Manchester United 3 - Reading (D2) 1
Sunday
Brighton 2 - Liverpool 1
Stoke (D2) 3 - Stevenage FC (D4) 1
(1:30 pm) Wrexham (D5) - Sheffield United (D2)
Monday
(3:45pm) Derby County (D3) - West Ham
look also
PSG, with Messi, vs Reims, for the French League: time, preview, how to watch it and probable formations
Julián Álvarez came in and changed the game for City that eliminated Arsenal from the FA Cup
Lautaro Martínez, on fire after the World Cup: two goals in Inter's triumph
Eva Anderson's heartfelt message for Demichelis's debut as River's coach: "The club of your loves"
