Daizen Maeda put on a superb display, scoring a hat-trick as Celtic trampled Raith Rovers 5-0 during the fifth round of the Scottish Cup on February 8, 2025, at their home ground. With this impressive victory, Celtic continues their quest for another cup title, moving comfortably through to the quarter-finals.
From the outset, it was clear Celtic were on the offensive. Just six minutes after kickoff, Maeda managed to break the deadlock. After receiving the ball close to the penalty area, he deftly combined with Paulo Bernardo, who flicked it back to him. Maeda calmly slotted it past the goalkeeper with his left foot, sending the home crowd roaring.
Despite the early lead, Celtic faced the challenge of notching more goals. Following injuries and substitutions, the team remained persistent. The second goal came just before halftime, at 48 minutes, courtesy of Maeda again. Following up on a counter-attack initiated by Hyun-jun Yang, Maeda found himself at the right position to slot home another goal, bringing his total tally to twenty this season across various competitions.
With the score at 2-0, the second half saw Celtic regroup and come out strong. Just two minutes later, they quickly solidified their lead. The attacking play was relentless, culminating with Luke McCowan’s goal, giving Celtic their third of the match.
But Maeda wasn’t finished yet. With the game’s closing minutes approaching, he found the back of the net for the final time. After another brilliant move involving Riou Hishikata, Maeda pounced on the low cross from McCowan, nudging the ball past defenders and sending himself tumbling with the ball across the line—completing his hat-trick.
Brendan Rodgers, the Celtic manager, couldn’t have been more pleased with Maeda's performance, proclaiming, "Today's three goals were fantastic. He can score various types of goals. His output this season has been remarkable, and he has made fantastic contributions beyond just scoring." This acknowledgment followed the match, reflecting the appreciation for Maeda's on-field efforts.
Notably, this match marked Maeda's second hat-trick of the season. His scoring prowess has only intensified since the departure of his fellow striker Kyogo Furuhashi, which had initially raised concerns. Instead, Maeda has quickly adapted, netting six goals since Furuhashi's move to French club Rennes.
This victory not only showcases Celtic's resilience but also sets the tone as they prepare for upcoming challenges. Next up, they will face Bayern Munich on February 12, 2025, for the preliminary playoff of the UEFA Champions League knockout stage, without Maeda due to suspension.
Maeda's continued scoring will certainly be pivotal as Celtic pushes forward, and fans are eager to see how their team builds on this dominant performance.