DAIZEN MAEDA scorched to his half-century of goals with a blistering hat-trick in Celtic’s 5-0 Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers at Parkhead last night.
The pacy Japanese raider kick-started and completed the rout against Barry Robson’s gallant Fifers with a performance of devastating finishing that also took this season’s haul to a hugely impressive 21 strikes.
Maeda obviously enjoys the cut and thrust of knock-out competitions. He also hammered in a spectacular trio as Brendan Rodgers’ men overcame Aberdeen 6-0 in the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final at Hampden in November.
THREE CHEERS…Celtic scorers Yang Hyun-jun, Luke McCowan and Daizen Maeda celebrate after the South Korean’s goal in the 5-0 win over Raith Rovers. Image courtesy Celtic TV.
Once the fleet-footed touchline ace, leading the line against the Championship outfit following his compatriot Kyogo Furuhashi’s £10million switch to French side Rennes, got into his breathtaking stride, there was no way back for the opposition.
Maeda, who also hit the League Cup clincher in the 5-4 spot-kick shoot-out against Philippe Clement’s Ibrox club in December, placed the breakthrough effort beyond the stranded Josh Rae in six minutes to open the door to another romp for the trophy holders.
He collected No.2 in first-half stoppage-time and brought down the curtain on a Man of the Match display in the 76th minute with the Hoops’ fifth to complete his hat-trick.
Luke McCowan and Yang Hyun-jun also chipped in with a quality goal apiece as Rodgers’ men booked a place in tomorrow night’s quarter-final draw.
Maeda’s latest goal-storming chapter is worth a second look, courtesy of those good folk at Celtic TV Unique Angle.
