Celtic have impressed yet again in the first-half for large spells, leading 2-1 at half-time against Hibernian at Celtic Park.
With Daizen Maeda replacing Kyogo Furuhashi in the starting 11, Maeda has seized a rare opportunity up front, scoring two goals in the first 45 minutes.
The Japanese international’s first goal came just three minutes into the game after a well-worked move.
Nicolas Kuhn’s through ball found Reo Hatate on the right-hand side of the Hibernian box.
Hatate then cut the ball back to Maeda, who calmly slotted it past Josef Bursik in the Hibernian goal.
“The Japanese combination!” 🇯🇵
Reo Hatate finds Daizen Maeda who scores @CelticFC‘s opening goal of the game 🍀#PremierSportsCup | @spfl pic.twitter.com/GI6oo2Py4Y
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) August 18, 2024
Kuhn would then be involved in Celtic’s second goal, linking up with Maeda once again.
With the German winger playing a wonderful ball over the Hibernian defence, Maeda found himself up against Bursik and Marvin Ekpita.
He then played the ball past both in a superb finish, effectively taking them out of the game.
Fantastic Daizen Maeda finish 👏
The Japan international scores his second of the day to make it 2-0 to @CelticFC 🍀#PremierSportsCup | @spfl pic.twitter.com/sj3xJtbPXm
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) August 18, 2024
Hibernian would hit back through Mykola Kukharevych, who scored with a header from a free kick in the 34th minute.
The forward was just judged to be onside despite the minimal space between him and Hatate from the free kick.
