CELTIC 5 RAITH ROVERS 0
DEAD-EYE Daizen Maeda made certain Celtic avoided a Scottish Cup banana skin at Parkhead tonight – on his way to becoming a Half-Century Bhoy with a fabulous hat-trick.
The unstoppable Japanese raider dazzled as he downed Raith Rovers to fire the holders into Monday night’s quarter-final draw while taking the opportunity to whisk his Hoops goal haul to 50.
The jet-heeled attacker came in from the wing to lead the attack with Nicolas Kuhn and Yang Hyun-jun given the duties on the flanks – and Maeda turned on the afterburners to scorch his way to an eye-catching trio that wiped away any concerns about Brendan Rodgers losing his impeccable record in the competition.
Luke McCowan and Yang also joined in the goal parade as Celtic prepared for the Champions League visit of Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
HAUL OF FAME…Daizen Maeda’s hat-trick against Raith Rovers took his Celtic tally to half a century.
That’s 19 successive wins in the trophy and there was no chance that praiseworthy was going to end against Barry Robson’s Championship side.
Maeda scored early and late in the opening period – and had another wiped out for offside as the Fifers just couldn’t cope with his lightning thrusts.
The international speedster got the show on the road with the breakthrough strike in the sixth minute before the opposition could draw breath.
The Hoops were on the front-foot right from the off and there was no surprise when they claimed an early opener.
McCowan and Paulo Bernardo were involved in the build-up before Maeda was left with just Josh Rae to beat smack in front of goal and he made no mistake with an instant low drive at the stranded keeper’s right-hand post.
There was a brief moment to create a flutter to the home fans in the 25th minute when a crossfield pass from Anthony Ralston was intercepted by Joe Gullane who swiftly sent Josh Mullin scampering through the heart of the hosts’ rearguard.
The Rovers striker tried to curl one past debut Bhoy Viljami Sinisalo, but the Finnish netminder reacted well to turn the effort wide of the left-hand post.
A BIG HAND…Brendan Rodgers clocks up Scottish Cup win No.19 against Raith Rovers.
In the 38th minute Bernardo was replaced by Reo Hatate after the Portuguese playmaker had landed awkwardly after a robust challenge.
Six minutes later, Maeda tucked a back-post effort into the net after a fine low right-wing cross from Ralston, but had strayed just offside.
However, he refused to accept no for an answer and returned two minutes into stoppage-time to double the holders’ advantage.
Maeda finished off a sweeping move that saw Kuhn sent Yang hurtling clear on the left and the South Korean’s excellent delivery was smack on the money for his team-mate to first-time past Rae from six yards.
The onslaught continued after the break when McCowan took just two minutes to finish off another inviting cross from Yang.
It got even better for the wing ace in the 56th minute when he rifled in No.5 from a long diagonal ball from Ralston.
Yang didn’t break stride as he got around the back of the Fife defence to first-time a pulverising drive between Rae and his right-hand post.
GOAL-DEN BHOY…Luke McCowan strikes again for Celtic.
In the 65th minute, Rodgers made a triple substitution as he removed skipper Callum McGregor and the impressive duo of Kuhn and Yang and introduced Arne Engels, Filipe Jota and Johnny Kenny.
Seven minutes later, Maik Nawrocki, on his 24th birthday, came on for Jeffrey Schlupp who had looked keen and lively throughout.
Liam Scales moved to the left to accommodate the £4.3million Pole in the middle of the rearguard.
Maeda brought down the curtain on another breathtaking virtuoso display when he collected the matchball following his 21st goal of a brilliant campaign.
Hatate and McCowan dovetailed on the left with the former Dundee man sizzling a ball into the box.
And there was Maeda coming in like an express train to bullet the ball home from practically under the crossbar.
It’s just a pity he is suspended and will miss Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
TEAM: Sinisalo; Ralston, Murray, Scales, Schlupp (sub: Nawrocki 72); Bernardo (sub: Hatate 38), McGregor (sub: Engels 65), McCowan; Kuhn (sub: Jota 65), Maeda, Yang (sub: Kenny 65).
