In the closing quarter-hour of their Asian Cup encounter against Iraq, Reo Hatate and his Celtic teammate Daizen Maeda joined the fray.

The duo entered the pitch with Japan trailing by two goals. Despite their efforts, Japan was unable to avert a loss on matchday two.

However, Hatate made a notable contribution, delivering an exquisite cross from a corner kick. This precise delivery found its way to Endo, who deftly headed the ball into the net, scoring a consolation goal and bringing the scoreline to a more respectable 2-1.

This match marked the inaugural participation of both Celtic luminaries in the Asian Cup, as they were relegated to the bench during the first matchday.

Following his impactful assist, Hatate will undoubtedly be keen to secure a more prominent role in the team’s strategy for the upcoming matchday three.

For Celtic fans, they’ll be hoping both men come back from the tournament unscathed and ready to help the Hoops with their title tilt in February.