MODEST hero Daizen Maeda played down his memorable overhead-kick for Celtic’s third goal that flattened Danny Rohl’s Ibrox side at Parkhead yesterday.
The jet-heeled Japanese striker had scored the Hoops’ second just four minutes earlier to add to Yang Hyun-jun’s first-half leveller to hand the advantage to the champions.
And Maeda, last season’s top scorer with 33 strikes, went one better with the spectacular effort that propelled the host towards a 3-1 victory that obliterated any hopes Rangers had of a place in the Champions League – and fired Martin O’Neill’s men within a point of Hearts with two games to play.
MAGICAL MAEDA…Celtic hero Maeda comes back to earth with his amazing overhead-kick already sending the ball soaring towards the Rangers net.
The World Cup-bound frontman sent the home fans into ecstasy with a moment of sheer brilliance as he took off into mid-air to launch an acrobatic right-foot drive over his shoulder into the top left-hand corner of the stranded Jack Butland’s net.
Paradise erupted as the ball hit the net, but Maeda refused to get carried away.
Asked later how he had managed to conjure up his flash of genius, he answered: “I was lucky! I had a good feeling and I thought: ‘Why not?’
“Why am I hitting my best form now? The fans are so good and we want to pay them back.
“I want to work hard and that is the reason why.”
I’M IN PARADISE…Daizen Maeda races away after his acrobatic effort had put Celtic 3-1 ahead in the derby with the Parkhead crowd acclaiming his inspirational moment.
Captain Callum McGregor was fulsome in his praise of his ream-mate and, speaking to the Daily Record, admitted: “Daizen was unbelievable. He just keeps getting better and better.
“For the first goal, it’s a trademark finish from him. For his second, he’s on cloud nine, it sits up well for him and what a finish.
“You could feel the atmosphere in the stadium. It was a special moment.”
We can all hope there are some more “special moments” to come in the vitally-important title run-in with a game against Motherwell at Fir Park on Wednesday before the curtain comes down on a tension-laden campaign against Derek McInnes’ side at Parkhead on Saturday.
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