Celtic warmed up for their midweek meeting against Bayern Munich with a thumping 5-0 victory over Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup. The Bhoys breezed seamlessly to the quarter-finals of the competition as the gap in quality became apparent at Celtic Park on Saturday night.
Celtic fans had expressed concern at the end of the January transfer window when they failed to sign a replacement for their key striker, Kyogo Furuhashi. Yet, Daizen Maeda proved there’s absolutely nothing to worry about, as the winger, deployed as central striker against the Fifers, delivered with a phenomenal hat-trick, marking his presence firmly on the field and displaying his ability to step up when needed.
Completing the scoring were Yang Hyun-jun and Luke McCowan, both of whom also shone brightly throughout the match, adding to the attacking prowess of the Hoops. The final score told the tale of dominance, cementing Celtic’s spot in the quarter-finals and allowing them to shift focus to their upcoming Champions League clash.
"Daizen Maeda was unbelievable again. Finished well for the opening goal and took his second with equal aplomb," reported _The Scottish Sun_ on the dynamic Japanese player's outstanding performance.
Celtic's victory was not just about the scoreline; it was also about confidence-building within the squad. Manager Brendan Rodgers made nine changes to the lineup following their 6-0 win over Dundee, keeping only Callum McGregor and Maeda from the previous match. His decision provided game time for debutant goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo and defenders Dane Murray and Jeffrey Schlupp, who relished fresh opportunities.
The match began sharply as Celtic burst forward. Just six minutes in, Maeda fired home following clever buildup play from Paulo Bernardo and McCowan, marking his sixth goal inside a week. McGregor's attempt shortly after rattled the crossbar, showcasing the hosts' relentless offensive intent.
Although Raith Rovers managed to get forward occasionally, they found little joy against the disciplined Celtic defense. The first-half possession was overwhelmingly dominated by Celtic, at 76 percent. Every assault from Raith was held at bay, with Sinisalo making only one notable save against Josh Mullin's forward lob.
“A couple of minutes after Maeda’s opener, Callum McGregor rattled Josh Rae’s crossbar from the edge of the box,” noted _The Scottish Times_, demonstrating Celtic's early command over the game.
The home side lucent the score again just before the half-time break. After defending their own corner, Celtic countered rapidly, with Yang setting Maeda up beautifully for his second goal, which eliminated any remaining resistance from Raith.
After half-time, Celtic picked up right where they left off, scoring again within minutes. Yang found McCowan, who flicked the ball home and confirmed the increasing gulf between the sides.
Then Yang, who was influential throughout the match, added to the tally himself. After Ralston sent through another superb cross, Yang expertly guided home his shot to make it 4-0.
Maeda completed the rout with his hat-trick on 77 minutes, notching up his 50th goal for the club following another assist from McCowan. It was another demonstration of his relentless energy and clinical finishing ability, confirming why he remains one of the key figures for Celtic during this cup run.
“Whatever the word for ‘relentless’ is in his language, he sure is the definition of it,” commented _The Celtic View_ on Maeda's remarkable spirit and contributions to the team's success.
Despite the dominant display, the victory was somewhat marred by Paulo Bernardo’s early substitution due to injury after only 37 minutes. It cast a shadow over what otherwise was a perfect night for Celtic as they prepared to face off against Bayern Munich in the Champions League knockout stage.
The comprehensive triumph not only secured Celtic's position among the last eight teams vying for the cup but also instilled confidence within the ranks, satisfying Rodgers as they look forward to the high-stakes clash against the Bundesliga giants.
All things considered, Celtic's emphatic victory marks another high point as the club kicks off its campaign for silverware and signals to rivals and supporters alike their readiness for the challenges to come.