Koki Mizuno played for JEF United Chiba before signing with Celtic in 2008. He made 11 appearances over two seasons and scored once, against Falkirk on Dec 21st, 2008, in extra time. He returned to Japan in 2010 and has since played for Kashiwa Reysol, Ventforet Kofu, JEF, Vegalta Sendai, Sagan Tosu, Roasso Kumamoto, and SC Sagamihara. Source.
It's Round Three of the Scottish Challenge Cup. In this round we have the 14 winners from Round Two, plus all ten Championship clubs, plus two each from the League of Ireland, the Northern Ireland Premiership, the Welsh Premier League, and the English National League: Bohemians and Waterford, Glenavon and Ballymena United, The New Saints and Connah's Quay Nomads, and Solihull Moors and Wrexham. The New Saints actually have their park in England, and Wrexham are a Welsh club playing in the English leagues. The involvement of all these non-Scottish clubs makes today one of the weirdest and most interesting matchdays in the Scottish football calendar.
Morton visit Inverness CT. You'll recall that Morton visited Inverness for a league match just eight days ago and Caley Thistle slapped them around to the tune of 5 - 0.
This is only the thirteenth Challenge Cup competition for ICT, but in that time they have won the cup twice and been runners-up two other times.
The last time Morton won a match in the Challenge Cup was August 19th, 2014, a 5 - 2 victory over Berwick Rangers at Cappielow. Since then the Ton have been eliminated by Alloa, Dumbarton, Queen's Park, Livingston, and Dumbarton again.
Morton and ICT have never met in the Challenge Cup before.
Referee is Willie Collum!
Morton have shipped 30 goals, league and cup, since this season began. They did not allow that number of goals until December 1st last season.
At the close of the transfer window Morton signed defenders Adam Livingstone and Jack Baird on loan from Motherwell and St Mirren respectively.
[Inverness CT 3 - 1 Morton. Morton goal by Sutton.]
The other matches:
Airdrieonians [3 - 2] Bohemians
Bohemians appeared in last year's Challenge Cup, beating Peterhead and Sutton United before a scheduling fiasco led them to withdraw from the quarter-finals. Nor have they left such difficulties behind. Today's match pre-empts Bohs' FAI Cup quarter-final against Crumlin United of the Leinster senior league, which will now go next week. Also, two Bohemians players have been called up for the Irish U21 squad.
Waterford 3 - 1 Hearts colts (last night)
This is the first time Waterford have participated in this cup. Waterford FC were called Waterford United before 2016. They were badly beaten by Celtic in the 1970-71 European Cup.
Formartine United [0 - 3] Glenavon
It's the first time in the Challenge Cup for Glenavon. Glenavon have faced Scottish opposition before: they played Kilmarnock in the 2001-02 UEFA Cup, losing 0 - 2 on aggregate. Formartine, who are in their fourth Challenge Cup, beat Livi colts and Peterhead to get to this game.
Ballymena United [0 - 1] Rangers colts (Sept 18)
First time for Ballymena. They were knocked out of this year's Europa League by Fouad Bachirou's Malmö FF. Rangers are without Kieran Wright, called up to the Scotland U21 squad. Ballymena are without Kofi Balmer.
Stenhousemuir [1 - 1] The New Saints
The New Saints have appeared in every edition of the Challenge Cup since Welsh clubs were admitted. In 2016-17 they beat Forfar and Livingston before losing to St Mirren. In 2017-18 they beat Livingston, Elgin City and Queen of the South, and then fell to rampant Dumbarton. Last year they lost to Queen's Park in their first game. [Stenny win the shootout.]
Connah's Quay Nomads [1 - 0] Cove Rangers
This is the Nomads' third Challenge Cup. In 2017-18 they were knocked out by Dumbarton in their first game. Last year they went to the final, beating Falkirk, Coleraine, Queen's Park and Edinburgh City before losing to Ross County.
Kelty Hearts [1 - 1] Solihill Moors
It's the first time in this cup for Solihull Moors. Guilty Hearts got to this game by beating Killie colts and Annan Athletic. [Solihull win the shootout.]
Wrexham [1 - 1] Ayr United
It's a road trip to Wales for the Honest Men, who are without Ross Doohan, Daniel Harvie, and Stephen Kelly, all called up to the Scotland U21s. [Wrexham win the shootout.]
Montrose [0 - 2] Partick Thistle
These two clubs have never met in the Challenge Cup before.
St Mirren colts [1 - 0] Stirling Albion
Meh. Colts. St Mirren are without Scotland U21 callups Kyle McAllister and Kyle Magennis.
Dundee United [0 - 0] Arbroath
Another all-Championship match. [Arbroath win the shootout.]
Clyde [3 - 2] Queen of the South
These two met in the first round of the 2007-08 Challenge Cup and Clyde won. QoS have to do without Scotland U21 callup Robbie McCrorie.
Raith Rovers [2 - 0] Falkirk
Romulus vs Remus. Raith currently lead League One, and Falkirk are in third place. This is their 30th meeting this decade.
Dundee [1 - 2] Elgin (tomorrow)
This is the first competitive match of any kind between these two clubs.
Dunfermline [1 - 2] Alloa
Another all-Championship match. These two also met five times last season. The towns of Dunfermline and Alloa are 29 miles apart as the wasp flies.
What a strange move on the part of the SPFL to introduce U21 squads to the Challenge Cup and then schedule a round on an international weekend when U21s are being called up.
Which 2019-20 Championship clubs have not yet played a non-Scottish team in the Challenge Cup?
Morton, Partick, Dundee, Arbroath.
League One:
Forfar [1 - 2] East Fife
Which teams have played the most 36-game seasons in the Scottish league?
44 Albion Rovers, Alloa, Brechin, Dumbarton, Stenhousemuir
43 Berwick, Forfar, Montrose, Stranraer
42 Cowdenbeath
41 Morton
1907-08: Morton hosted Heart of Midlothian and played them to a 1 - 1 draw.
1963-64: Morton returned to league play with a 5 - 1 win over Dumbarton on September 4th, and a 2 - 0 victory against Ayr United, both of them at Cappielow. Morton had now recorded nine wins in nine games, league and cup.
Scottish Cup: Jeanfield Swifts [2 - 5] Linlithgow Rose
SPFL Reserve League: Motherwell 2 - 0 Morton (Sept 2)
Lowland League: Edinburgh University [1 - 1] University of Stirling
Canadian Premier League:
Pacific 1 - 1 Forge (Sept 4)
Forge [2 - 1] York9 (Sept 8)
Which Canadian Premier League players have been called up for this weekend's Concacaf Nations League A games?
Marco Carducci (Cavalry) Canada
Ryan Telfer (York9) Trinidad and Tobago
SWFL2 W/SW: Mid Annandale Ladies [0 - 10] Morton Women (tomorrow)
Tohoku Soccer League: Saruta Kogyo [0 - 5] Iwaki FC (tomorrow)
Top, left to right: Ballymena United, Bohemians, Connah's Quay Nomads, Glenavon.
Bottom, left to right: Solihull Moors, The New Saints, Waterford, Wrexham.
Source: their Wikipedia pages.