CELTIC 3 RANGERS 1
DYNAMITE Daizen Maeda dumped Danny Rohl’s also-rans with a devastating double as Celtic kept the so-called impossible dream alive at Parkhead this afternoon.
The Japanese ace struck twice in just over three minutes to fire the champions to within one point of Hearts with two games to go.
It was an astonishing derby encounter in Paradise as Martin O’Neill’s men had to respond to conceding an early goal to come storming back with all guns blazing.
Yang Hyun-jun levelled before the turnaround and then Maeda took over with a sensational double strike after the break.
He put the hosts ahead in the 53rd minute and then put the game out of sight with a spectacular overhead-kick shortly afterwards.
The stadium was rocking following a pulsating 94 minutes as Celtic moved within two victories of a fifth successive title.
GRIN AND BEAR IT…Daizen Maeda is all smiles after his two-goal blast in the derby.
Now they face the difficult trip to Fir Park to face Motherwell on Wednesday – at the same time Derek McInnes’ side play Falkirk at Tynecastle – and then it’s all eyes on Parkhead on Saturday for what could be the title decider.
The Hoops gifted the visitors the opening goal in the ninth minute before battling back to make it all-square in the 23rd minute.
Ironically, Luke McCowan, a surprise starter, was heavily involved in both goals.
He was robbed of the ball on the right touchline by Manny Fernandez who released a pass to Youssef Chermiti who was alarmingly allowed to waltz towards the penalty area.
His shot deflected off Liam Scales straight to the unmarked Mikey Moore who snapped up the ricochet to bury an angled drive past the exposed Viljami Sinisalo.
Thankfully, McCowan atoned for his lapse when he sent Arne Engels running free in the box with an exquisite reverse pass that created an opening.
The Belgian, who was looking in the mood, whipped over an inviting low cross and Yang arrived with perfect timing to lash a drive past Jack Butland to ease some of the anxiety that had been settling on the east end of Glasgow.
SMILES BETTER…Yang Hyun-jun in celebratory mood.
The keeper complained about his vision being obscured by Benjamin Nygren who was standing in an offside position. Referee Nick Walsh had had no problem in awarding the goal, but John Beaton, on VAR, decided to have another look.
After what seemed an age, he okayed the strike and images proved Butland would have no chance of saving the shot, irrespective of where the Swede was standing.
Good try, Jack, but no cigar.
The netminder, in fact, had produced an excellent stop in only three minutes to prevent the champions from claiming an early advantage.
Engels charged through from the middle of the park to unleash a vicious 30-yard drive. The ball dipped and swerved, but Butland managed to scoop the ball away.
It broke off Daizen Maeda back into the grateful arms of the Ibrox No.1.
The Japanese speedster should have scored in the 16th minute after Yang drove past two challenges before slipping a superb ball into the tracks of his team-mate.
Maeda took aim before screwing a shot horribly wide of the far post. At the very least, he should have hit the target.
GROUNDED – AND ON A HIGH…Daizen Meada sits it out as he watches his overhead-kick land in the net past the static Jack Butland for Celtic’s third goal.
As expected, Martin O’Neill made his first change in the game at the interval when he replaced McCowan, who appeared to be off the pace, with Sebastian Tounekti with Yang switching to the right.
The hosts served notice of their intentions seven minutes into the second-half when Nygren flashed over a cross from the left that was just a stud’s length away from a goal from the lunging Maeda.
However, the energetic frontman was rewarded for his perseverance when he put the Hoops ahead with a superbly well-worked goal.
Callum McGregor rolled a pass back to Liam Scales who launched a high ball into the danger zone to Kieran Tierney who first-timed a cross into the box.
Maeda, as ever, was the first to react as he powered in an eight-yard drive to leave Butland without a chance – or an excuse.
And in the 57th minute, magical Maeda staged an action replay with a contender for Goal of the Year.
Again, it was constructed down the left with Tierney setting Tounekti in motion.
He bamboozled James Tavernier, making his final appearance in this pressurised fixture, before zipping over a dangerous cross.
It was diverted by Connor Barron into the air and he inadvertently set up a memorable moment for Maeda.
HEAVEN’S ABOVE…Daizen Maeda enjoys the moment.
The jet-heeled raider took a touch with his left and then, with his back to the goal, took off on an acrobatic leap to catch the ball perfectly with his right and send an overhead-kick soaring high past the rooted Butland for the killer goal.
Reo Hatate, almost Celtic’s forgotten man, was introduced for Nygren in the 76th minute.
Five minutes later, Alistair Johnston and Yang were withdrawn as Anthony Ralston and Kelechi Iheanacho came on and shortly afterwards it was Marcelo Saracchi’s turn to make an appearance for Tierney.
Bojan Miovski hit the bar deep into four minutes of stoppage-time, but it would have been a mere consolation for the visitors who have now lost three in a row with their season coming to a halt at Parkhead.
Celtic, on the other hand, have a league and Cup double in their sights.
Happy Daiz are here again!
TEAM: Sinisalo; Johnston (sub: Ralston 81), Trusty, Scales, Tierney (sub: Saracchi 84); Nygren (sub: Hatate 76), McGregor, Engels; McCowan (sub: Tounekti 46), Meada, Yang (sub: Iheanacho 81).
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