IPSWICH, England (Kyodo) -- Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma on Thursday tied with former Leicester forward Shinji Okazaki for most goals scored by a Japanese player in the English Premier League, netting his 14th with the opener in their 2-0 win at Ipswich.

Mitoma side-footed home his fourth goal of the season in the 59th minute after Matt O'Riley laid the ball on from the right inside the box at Portman Road, getting on the scoresheet for the first time since Nov. 29.

"It feels as if it's finally gone in," said a relieved Mitoma. "After playing in the league for some time, I can picture myself eventually setting the record (for most goals scored by a Japanese)."

Georginio Rutter squeezed in Brighton's second in the 81st minute as they ended their eight-game winless run and moved up to ninth on 31 points.

In Spain, Takefusa Kubo's low cross from the left set up the 23rd-minute opener for Mikel Oyarzabal as Real Sociedad won 3-1 at home against Rayo Vallecano in the Copa del Rey fourth round.