Daizen Maeda turned in another Man of the Match performance, scoring two goals as Celtic crushed Dundee 6-0 to move 13 points clear at the top of the SPFL Premiership table.
The Japanese international forward switched from his usual berth on the left flank over to the right but that didn’t dull his effectiveness with two contrasting goals.
Celtic were leading 2-0 at half time but after the break they turned on the style with Maeda scoring goals number three and four.
In the 55th minute he timed his back post run perfectly to nod home a tempting in-swinging cross from Jota but it was Celtic’s fourth goal that will be remembered longest.
Jota actually won possession near his own corner flag on the left but rather than rush the ball down the flank he played it inside to Callum McGregor.
Suddenly players were springing forwards, the captain found Arne Engels who quickly pinged a diagonal into the space that Maeda was heading into.
A Dundee defender got a touch on the ball but Maeda was in his stride, he barely paused before instinctively pinging a shot high and across Trevor Carson into the net.
On repeat…. ? pic.twitter.com/Mbj3lJUL62
— Stevie Hoops (@Shoops88) February 5, 2025
There were two more goals after that, from Arne Engels and substitute Nicolas Kuhn but they weren’t quite of the standards of Maeda’s 18th goal of the season.
Picture by Getty Images
Brilliant finish from Maeda!
An absolute sublime finnish by Maeda 🙂 Shades of a certain Henrick Larrson for sure.