Once again, another game and another goal for Daizen Maeda in his Celtic kit.
The unstoppable Japanese man scored his 27th goal of the season as Celtic triumphed over Hibernian in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals on Sunday. Just a few weeks ago, Hibernian had handed a defeat to the champions at Easter Road in the Premiership.
But this time, Celtic got their revenge on home turf. Maeda opened the scoring in the first half, showing his quick reactions as he pounced on Nicolas Kuhn’s saved shot. Adam Idah, coming off the bench, sealed the victory with a goal from Luke McCowan’s cross.
The home team dominated the game, with Maeda leading the charge. Hibernian, despite their unbeaten streak in all competitions, struggled to make an impact.
Pat Bonner and John Collins had nothing but praise for Maeda’s ‘electric’ performance. They both agreed that Maeda’s goal against Hibs showcased his incredible form throughout the season.
Bonner suggested that Maeda should be awarded Player of the Year for his outstanding goal-scoring abilities from various positions on the field. Collins added that Maeda’s quick reflexes and hunger in front of goal were unmatched.
Looking at Maeda’s season in numbers, it’s clear that he has been a standout player for Celtic. With the possibility of more games in the Scottish Cup and the remaining Premiership matches, Maeda has a shot at reaching 40 goals this season.
Overall, it has been a memorable season for Maeda, who was brought in by Ange Postecoglou to make a significant impact for Celtic.
