Daizen Maeda continued his excellent form with a brace this afternoon against St Johnstone at Hampden. However, that means he has the chance to make Celtic history again.
After scoring in Celtic’s 5-1 win over Kilmarnock last weekend, Maeda equalled Larsson’s record of scoring eight goals in eight consecutive starts at Celtic Park. But now, Maeda has his eyes on something even bigger — breaking one of Larsson’s long-standing records in the Scottish Cup.
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Henrik Larsson is a legend at Celtic, and his 2001 Scottish Cup campaign stands out as one of the Hoops’ finest. He scored nine goals in the competition that year, a record that has stood for 24 years. Maeda is now just two goals away from matching that, having already netted seven goals in this season’s Scottish Cup. If he scores in the final, he’ll become the first player since Larsson to score nine goals in a single Scottish Cup campaign.
What makes this even more exciting for Celtic fans is that if Maeda scores in the final, he’ll be the first player to score in every round of the Scottish Cup since Brian McClair did it back in the 1983-84 season. It’s a massive achievement, and Maeda’s consistency in the competition has been impressive.
Since arriving at Celtic, Maeda has shown incredible work rate and a real eye for goal. His relentless pressing and sharp finishing have made him a key player for the team. He’s been involved in every round of the cup, scoring when it mattered most, and has become a fan favourite because of his energy and commitment.
With the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen just around the corner, all eyes will be on Maeda to see if he can make history. If he does, it’ll be a testament to how far he’s come at Celtic. He’s already proven himself as one of the Hoops’ most exciting players, and if he can add the Scottish Cup record to his achievements, he’ll surely go down as one of Celtic’s greats.
For now, Celtic fans are hoping Maeda can continue his fine form and put his name alongside some of the Hoops’ most iconic players. If he scores in the final, he’ll certainly cement his place in Hoops history.
