In Glasgow, Scotland, Japanese forward Daizen Maeda showcased his scoring prowess for Celtic, securing his fourth goal of the season in the Scottish Premiership. The match resulted in a dominant 7-1 victory over Dundee at Celtic Park.
Maeda’s skillful display included a precise first touch, followed by a well-placed left-footed shot into the far corner, contributing to the 4-0 lead after goals from Cameron Carter-Vickers, Adam Idah, and Matt O’Riley.
The first half saw additional goals from Greg Taylor and Callum McGregor, making it 6-0 at halftime. Daniel Kelly added one more goal in the 63rd minute, sealing Celtic’s biggest win of the season. Despite a late goal from Dundee’s Michael Mellon, Celtic continues to trail Old Firm rival Rangers by two points in the league standings.
Maeda’s goal coincided with fellow Japanese players Koki Ogawa and Kodai Sano, who scored midweek goals for NEC Nijmegen in Europe.
Celtic’s victory brings them within one goal of Rangers on goal difference, providing a boost to their pursuit of the league title. Manager Brendan Rodgers expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, emphasizing a return to a ruthless mentality and the attractive style of play reminiscent of his earlier successful tenure at Celtic.
In contrast, Rangers maintained their position at the top of the table with a 2-1 comeback win against Kilmarnock. Kilmarnock’s Danny Armstrong opened the scoring from the penalty spot, but Rangers responded in the second half.
Captain James Tavernier equalized with a trademark free kick, and Tom Lawrence secured the victory with a fine finish four minutes later. Philippe Clement, Rangers’ manager, praised his team’s resilience, tempo, and fighting spirit, highlighting the challenging conditions on Kilmarnock’s rain-soaked artificial surface.
With 10 league games remaining, Rangers aim to secure their first title since 2021, having achieved 11 successive wins in all competitions since their previous loss to Celtic.