GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 05: Celtic's Daizen Maeda celebrates as he scores to make it 3-2 during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park, on October 05, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Daizen Maeda got Celtic out of jail with an injury time winning goal to secure a 3-2 win over Motherwell.
It was another dismal, flat performance from the hoops that tested the patience of the fans who chanted against the Board throughout the second half.
Maeda started the match on the right wing, switched to the left then finished as a striker, heading home from inside the six yard box from a Michel-Ange Balikwisha cross
Once again the match was ruined by the time wasting of the visitors who were accommodated by referee Calum Scott who delivered free kicks on demand.
Last week Don Robertson only added on four minutes of stoppage time for the time wasting of Hibs, there could have been more than seven today but it was enough to give Maeda then opportunity to give Celtic full points.
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Maeda with a HUGE goal as we see off Motherwell with a winner in extra time.
Yes, it’s papering over the cracks but it’s a massive win & hopefully a catalyst going forward!
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) October 5, 2025
Rodgers made four changes to the Celtic team that lost to Braga in midweek but it made little difference to the pedestrian style of play that was all focussed down the left through Seb Tounekti.
A penalty from Kelechi Iheanacho put Celtic in front in the 28th minute but the visitors levelled just before the break.
Despite being perfectly positioned and ignoring penalty appeals from Motherwell Scott was sent to the VAR monitor in the 56th minute leading to the inevitable penalty which Apostolos Stamatelopoulos converted for his second goal of the day.
The anti-board chants increased after that but substitute Ben Nygren levelled the match in the 69th minute after some ridiculous defending from Motherwell.
The time wasting was stepped up by Motherwell but in the third minute of stoppage time Maeda stooped to head home from a cross by Balikwisha.
Celtic are back in action two weeks today away to Dundee knowing that it will require a massive improvement if they are to set off on a winning run.
Andy Halliday was an unused substitute, during the week he’ll be sharing top banter on various media platforms.
CLICK HERE for BBC match report
CLICK HERE for blundering Nicholson in the spotlight
Joe, “It was another dismal, flat performance from the hoops……..”
I beg to differ but, to me, that was a huge improvement with much more energy, intensity and quality than anything we’ve seen of late and we thoroughly deserved the 3 pts. Aye, we made more than a few mistakes all over the park but we’re playing with a strategically weakened squad so that’s on the board. Brendan made some changes that almost certainly got us the result and he should be recognised for it. Daizen was back near his best especially when back on the left and I thought he was terriific and scored that superb, match-winning header. Have to say I couldn’t fathom bringing on KT for Sarachi but otherwise okay and that’s a huge lift for The Bhoys today. Season’s can often turn on one match and I hope that’s true here.
COME ON YOU BHOYS IN GREEN!
Editor: There was an element of desperation at 1-2, the first half was typically grim, fortunately Nygren took advantage of a gift from the Motherwell keeper.
I seen a banner today saying ‘ F*ck the meeting , resign ‘
Absolutely bang on
Need an old midfield general in there. Far for weak in midfield.
Hatate has been a passenger for far too long now.
He seems immune to the criticism the likes of Calmac & Engels get, though both of them are also hardly setting the heather alight.
A player that obviously has the talent, but just doesn’t have the concentration, he’s a liability more than he is an asset.
Overall I thought that was better today, but we still needed a penalty and a pass from their goalie straight to Nygren to get the win.
Still work to do, Hearts game huge in a few weeks.
Hatate not criticised?, what fans sites do you frequent?, he’s probably the most consistently criticised player over the past 2 seasons. Although, bizarrely his admirers have got the upper hand this season, and he has for some reason escaped criticism this season, although he like Maeda and a few others he’s been an empty jersey.
The goings on with the board have thoroughly demoralised this team, and each bad performance reinforces this, and that’s when you need your leaders, the most experienced to lead by example, instead of which we have Calmac,Tierney and Shmiecal being among the worst offenders.
I didn’t say he wasn’t criticised, recently its been all Engels & Calmac getting most of the abuse, even tho Hatate’s form has barely changed over the last 18months, tho odd decent goal hardly cancels out the multitude of errors he makes every single week.
The turning point was the generosity / insanity of the ‘Well keeper.
Without that error we would be lucky to get a draw?
We just got lucky today, more than anything else?
Absolutely Bob (original) – We got very lucky…
But thank fuck that we did !