Celtic staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Rangers 3-1 at Celtic Park in the latest Old Firm derby, reducing the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts to just one point. The victory was powered by an outstanding performance from Daizen Maeda, who scored twice, including a breathtaking overhead kick, bringing his goal tally to six in his last four matches.
First Half Action
Rangers took an early lead in the ninth minute through Mikey Moore, catching the Celtic defense off guard. However, Celtic responded swiftly, with Yang Hyun-jun equalizing in controversial circumstances. The home side grew into the game, creating several chances before the break.
Maeda's Moment of Magic
The second half belonged to Maeda. In the 55th minute, he produced a moment of sheer brilliance, connecting with a looping cross to execute an acrobatic overhead kick that left the Rangers goalkeeper rooted to the spot. The goal sent the Celtic Park crowd into raptures and shifted the momentum decisively in Celtic's favor.
Maeda added a third goal later in the half, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to slot home from close range. Rangers pushed forward in search of a way back, but Celtic's defense held firm, securing a vital three points.
Title Race Implications
The result, combined with Hearts' draw elsewhere, means Celtic can now clinch the title with a point at Fir Park next week, followed by a potential decisive showdown against Hearts the following Sunday. Manager Brendan Rodgers praised his team's resilience and Maeda's exceptional form.
Rangers, meanwhile, will rue missed opportunities and defensive errors as they slipped further behind in the title race. The Ibrox side must regroup quickly to keep their faint hopes alive.
