Fiftysomething Miura scores to better own Japanese record

TOKYO (Reuters) - Kazuyoshi "King Kazu" Miura scored the only goal in Yokohama FC's win over Thespa Kusatsu in J-League 2 at the weekend to better his own mark as the oldest goalscorer in Japanese professional football.

The former Japan striker, who made his professional debut for Brazilian club Santos in 1986, found the net in the 40th minute of Sunday's match for his first goal of the season at the age of 50 years and 14 days.

"I'm always looking to score, but I had an especially good feeling today," Miura, who is in his 32nd year as a professional, told Kyodo news.

"I had the vibes of a goal. I was just trying to stay positive."

Miura, whose career has also included spells in Italy and Croatia, scored 55 goals in 89 appearances for Japan between 1990 and 2000.

England great Stanley Matthews scored his last goal as a professional in a competitive match for Stoke City against Swansea in the FA Cup fifth round in 1964 when he was 49 years, 14 days old.

(Writing by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, edited by Andrew Both)