Daizen Maeda Shines as Celtic Overcome Hibernian

Celtic advanced to the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup with a dominant 3-1 victory over Hibernian, securing a match-up against second-tier Falkirk. Daizen Maeda played a pivotal role, scoring twice in the early stages and further demonstrating Celtic’s superiority.

Maeda opened the scoring just three minutes into the match, and he quickly doubled his tally with another goal 13 minutes later. The Japanese forward was on fire, and he came close to completing his hat-trick before halftime, as Celtic showcased their attacking prowess and control.

Hibernian managed to claw back into the game thanks to Mykola Kuharevich’s excellent diving header from a Martin Boyle free-kick, which briefly shifted momentum in their favor. Despite this resurgence, Hibs were dealt a blow by a critical error from Marvin Ekpiteta. The defender’s weak pass to goalkeeper Josef Bursik led to a mishap that allowed Nicolas Kuhn to score, extinguishing any hopes of a Hibs comeback.

With Kyogo Furuhashi resting due to a shoulder injury, Adam Idah made an impactful return from Norwich City, contributing to a solid performance by Celtic. The win is particularly significant for Celtic as they aim to reclaim the only domestic trophy they missed out on last season.

Celtic will next face Falkirk, who defeated Hearts to advance, in a home tie scheduled for the weekend of September 21. The result underscores Celtic’s impressive start to the season and their readiness for another domestic treble. However, questions remain about whether they will bolster their squad further for a stronger challenge in the revamped Champions League.

Celtic’s performance was marked by aggressive pressing, quick passing, and sharp forward runs, which left Hibernian struggling. The early goals from Maeda showcased Brendan Rodgers’ tactical plans, with Celtic playing exactly how the manager envisions. Despite some wasted opportunities, the team’s ability to control the game was evident.

Hibernian, under new head coach David Gray, were instructed to show significant improvement from their previous encounter with Celtic. However, their defensive lapses persisted, with individual errors costing them crucial goals. Kuharevich’s header was a rare highlight for Hibs, but it was overshadowed by defensive mistakes and a failure to build on their brief spell of pressure.

Gray’s strategy to switch to a back three did little to stem the tide of Celtic’s dominance, and the subsequent error from Ekpiteta further compounded Hibs’ difficulties. With nine new signings and possibly more changes on the horizon, Gray faces a challenging task in shaping his team’s defensive solidity and overall cohesion.

In post-match reactions, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers praised his team’s performance, highlighting their hunger and effectiveness in counter-pressing. He acknowledged the threat posed by Hibernian’s throw-ins but expressed satisfaction with his team’s overall handling of the game.

Conversely, David Gray expressed frustration with the recurring defensive mistakes and individual errors that led to early goals against his team. He emphasized the need for improvement and potential changes to address the issues and avoid repeating the same mistakes.

The match highlighted Celtic’s strength and depth, reinforcing their position as one of the top contenders for domestic titles while also setting their sights on European competitions.