Goal machine Daizen Maeda hit a treble – and his 50th Celtic goal – to fire an experimental Hoops side past Raith into the Scottish Cup quarter finals.
The Japanese forward started through the middle in place of rested Adam Idah and replied with a hat trick to take his season tally to 20 and reach the golden milestone in his fourth season at Parkhead. Maeda might be suspended for Wednesday’s visit of Bayern Munich but he at least helped ensure there was no slip-up ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League blockbuster as Luke McCowan and Hjunjun Yang also netted.
The only slight concern for Brendan Rodgers was the sight of Paulo Bernardo hobbling off after 37 minutes with what appeared to be an ankle knock. Rodgers took the opportunity to hand full debuts to goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo – with Kasper Schmeichel nursing a minor back knock – and Jeffrey Schlupp while Dane Murray also began in the centre of defence. In total there were nine changes from the side that demolished Dundee on Wednesday.
But you wouldn’t have known. It took just six minutes for the Hoops to get their noses in front. McCowan fed Maeda 20 yards out and, although the Japanese failed to get the ball under control first time, it broke kindly to Bernardo who quick as a flash played Maeda back in and he bent a low shot past Josh Rae from 16 yards.
Moments later Callum McGregor cracked the junction of bar and post with a 25 yarder as the roof threatened to cave in on Raith. Maeda had a goal ruled out for offside before he doubled the lead in first half injury time. Nicolas Kuhn fed the ball wide left to Yang and the Korean’s low cross was perfect for Maeda to thrash high past Rae from 10 yards.
Less than two minutes into the second half it was 3-0. Yang again was the provider with another low cross from the left this time turned home by McCowan. Yang deserved a moment in the spotlight and he got it as he thrashed home the fourth goal in the 56th minute. Tony Ralston’s deep cross found the left winger unmarked six yards out at the back post and his first time effort gave Rae no chance.
Raith’s tiring legs and minds wouldn’t have been keen on the site of Jota and Arne Engels entering the action after But it was that man Maeda who nabbed his hat trick on 77 minutes to end the scoring as he darted in off the right flank to get in on front of Lewis Stevenson and tap McCowan’s cross home.
He’s Maeda goals
Only Daizen Maeda and skipper Callum McGregor retained their places in the starting XI from the side that thrashed Dundee on Wednesday. But this was all about Maeda who was deployed through the middle with Adam Idah rested on the bench ahead of the Bayern blockbuster.
The Japanese responded by taking his tally to 20 for the season and 50 in Hoops colours. With no new striker arriving last month the 27-year-old proved he’s more than capable of filling Idah’s boots through the middle when required. It’s not an alien position to the rapid frontman who often leads the line for Japan.
His first goal was clinical, his second all about positioning and his third a typical dart in at the back post. The 27-year-old looks to have tidied up his touch this season but more than anything his sharp movement, dropping deep then racing in behind, and blistering pace wasn’t too dissimilar to Kyogo at his peak. He can’t play any part against Bayern due to suspension. But Maeda will be a huge figure for the Hoops in the next four months in any of the three forward areas.
Munich on their minds
With all due respect to Raith, Celtic are preparing to enter a different level altogether against Bayern. They’re now 32 games unbeaten at Celtic Park and stand one short of equalling Gordon Strachan’s record as boss between 2005 and 2007. But if they’re to make that 33 then they’re going to have to go up a few gears from this canter against Vincent Kompany’s superstars.
The starting XI will look vastly different. But Hoops fans would have been keen to see some of the fringe men and debutants at close quarters. In goal Viljami Sinisalo dealt with the odd ball thrown his way including one decent first half save and a couple of corners, although perhaps with a tendency to punch rather than catch.
Schlupp eased through 71 minutes before being replaced by Maik Nawrocki, the loanee left back pushed up through the middle to help overload the midfield and show his versatility and comfort on the ball. Murray – making only his second start and first since 2021 – had a comfortable evening beside Liam Scales at centre half but after his cameo at Villa Park last week the 21-year-old looks comfortable playing out from the back.
Rovers return
Raith are nine points off fourth spot in the Championship but having played two games less. This was never going to be a true gauge of their chances of sneaking into the play-off positions but they can now focus their attention on a promotion push after a Parkhead payday.
Credit to Barry Robson’s side they looked to play on the deck whenever they could with some nice touches from Dylan Easton and Josh Mullin only lacking an end product. At the back the experience of Paul Hanlon and Lewis Stevenson should be crucial while skipper Scott Brown is an absolute workhorse in midfield.
Frontman Jamie Gullan took an early knock which eventually forced him off and could be a concern for Robson with Lewis Vaughan and Jack Hamilton sidelined. But otherwise Raith have balance, experience and enough quality to give hope they could push for those top four spots.