After returning as a Women’s Asian Cup winner with Japan, there was no rest for Kiko Seike.
She returned to face Leicester on Sunday, March 29th. Kiko didn’t just start the game, but won it for Albion.
Her second-half slotted goal guided The Seagulls to a 0-1 away victory.
It was their first league win in five games, putting them into top-half WSL territory.
Now, Brighton face a big FA Cup quarter-final fixture against Arsenal on Sunday, April 5th.
During the pre-match press conference, Brighton Women’s head coach Dario Vidosic hailed the Japanese international.
Dario said: “She’s growing, learning, understanding the experience of last year as well. So that obviously helps.
“So now (in) the second year, she’s familiar with her teammates, familiar with the opponent.
“She’s just got that eye for goal, in the right areas, always making good runs, putting herself in good positions.
“That confidence just keeps growing.
“We were happy to have her back (from the international break).
“Both her and Moeka (Minami) were cramping towards the end (of the Leicester match).
“They were out there no matter what.
“(Knowing) that leading into the game, that would be very important, that we also showed desperation, that will.
“They showed it after a long tournament, a successful tournament for both, a long flight to get back and still to put in that effort.”
Kiko Seike arrived at Albion from Urawa Reds in the summer of 2024 and wasted little time making her mark.
The Albion winger scored a hat-trick on her WSL debut, becoming the first player in the competition’s history to achieve the feat.
Seike spent 15 years with Urawa Reds before the move, making more than 150 appearances for the Japanese side.
In all competitions, Kiko has scored 10 goals for the club this season.
In January, she also extended her club contract, though the length of that deal was not disclosed with the announcement.