CELTIC 3 MOTHERWELL 2
DAIZEN MAEDA swooped in stoppage-time to send a rocket header past Calum Ward for a remarkable winner.
It had been a frantic, hectic confrontation at Parkhead this afternoon with the game a rollercoaster of emotions.
The champions led 1-0, were pulled back, went behind, drew level and then Maeda came up with the dramatic diving winner.
It was exhausting stuff, but Celtic, far from being at their best, refused to give in and continued to fight and scrap for the victory.
And it was Maeda who responded to the desperate urges of the supporters with only his third goal of the campaign.
The win now leaves the Hoops just two points behind Hearts after seven outings. At one stage, though, this looked like being an afternoon to forget against an enterprising Fir Park outfit.
HANDS UP IF YOU’RE HAPPY…Daizen Maeda after scoring a crucial goal.
There was no hint of the suspense that was about to follow when only four minutes had gone when Kelechi Iheanacho seized upon slack play from Well to set up Callum McGregor.
Unfortunately, the skipper’s angled drive from eight yards lacked pace and precision and a relieved Ward shovelled the ball around the post.
Three minutes later, Maeda was presented with a shooting chance on the edge of the box, but his mishit effort was straight at the keeper.
McGregor had an 18-yard shot charged down by Regan Charles-Cook in the 28th minute and referee Callum Scott was quick to point to the penalty spot. VAR agreed with the handball decision and once again Iheanacho accepted the responsibility.
The Nigerian made an impeccable job of netting his first Hoops goal against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park three weeks ago.
And the UEFA deadline-day signing made no mistake again as he swept a low drive to Ward’s left as the keeper took off for his right.
In the 37th minute, Kasper Schmeichel rescued the hosts with an outstanding block after a mistake from Marcelo Saracchi. He was robbed by Tawanise Maswanhise who raced clean through to drill in an effort, but the Danish shotstopper reacted swiftly to block the effort.
However, Schmeichel had no chance when Well levelled five minutes from the interval after an original heavy touch from Anthony Ralston gifted possession to the visitors.
HAPPY DAZE…marksman Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates his penalty-kick success.
The ball was moved around before it was pushed wide right and Maswanhise sent an inviting cross into the box. His pass was met by Apostolos Stamatelpoulos who nipped between Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers to divert a close-range effort low into the net.
VAR’s Gavin Duncan examined the Aussie’s position as the ball was delivered and pictures showed he had been played just onside by Scales.
Moments before the interval, Paul McGinn made a timely intervention when he slid in to block Iheanacho smack in front of goal after a ball in from Maeda.
As the half-time whistle sounded, it was clear the fans had not been overly impressed with what they had been witnessing.
Parkhead was silenced in the 54th minute when VAR intervened after Saracchi was found guilty of standing on Waswasnhise’s foot as the players went for a left-wing cross.
It looked fairly innocuous, but that didn’t stop Stamatelpoulos from thumping a 12-yard award high past the diving Schmeichel to his right.
The Hoops were in total disarray with some wayward passing from players looking devoid of confidence.
On the hour mark, Brendan Rodgers threw on Benjamin Nygren, James Forrest and Arne Engels for McCowan, Hatate and Tounekti.
Three minutes later, Nygren missed a great chance to level after a deep cross from Saracchi rebounded from the crossbar.
The Swede looked perfectly placed to put the ball in the net, but he slashed it high and wide from 12 yards.
In the 64th minute, Kieran Tierney replaced Saracchi as Rodgers hoped for some inspiration from somewhere.
Nygren then tested Ward with a low drive and the keeper spread himself to his left to push the ball to safety.
It was third time lucky for Nygren in the 69th minute when he was presented with the ball with an off-target pass from Ward.
The substitute couldn’t believe his good fortune as he belted a shot high into the exposed net.
EAR WE GO…Benjamin Nygren celebrates a Celtic goal.
In the 73rd minute, Engels made a great angled run across the box to pick up a pass, but just when it was expected he would have an attempt at goal, he tried to pass inside and the chance was lost.
It was reaching desperation stages when Michel-Ange Balikwisha came on for the tiring Iheanacho in the 78th minute.
The Belgian took over the left-wing spot and Maeda moved into the centre of the attack.
Balikwisha blew the chance to make an immediate impact on proceedings when a right-cross practically dropped on his head six yards out, but he made an awful contact, the effort went wide and Well survived.
Two minutes later, Balikwisha made amends with a crisp and superb ball into the box and Maeda took off with an athletic dive to head in the winner.
It was a truly astonishing climax to a tough, hard-fought encounter that often tested the patience of the home support.
However, Maeda had the final say with a much-needed points-clincher.
Didn’t he do Well!
TEAM: Schmeichel; Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Saracchi (sub: Tierney 64); McCowan (sub: Nygren 60), McGregor, Hatate (sub: Engels 60); Maeda, Iheanacho (sub: Balikwisha 78) and Tounekti (sub: Forrest 60).
