SPFL

Monday, January 17, 2022

Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC… 2

(Maeda 5’, Juranovic 25’ pen).

HIBERNIAN… 0

A debut strike from Celtic’s January signing Daizen Maeda helped Ange Postecoglou’s side earn their first three points of 2022 in an impressive 90 minute display over Hibernian.

The new year saw new faces on the Celtic Park pitch, as the fans returned in their numbers with the Premiership returning from the winter break.

Hoops fans had fresh memories of facing the Leith side with the League Cup final win in December bringing the first trophy of the campaign.

This time, Hibs had a new man at the helm, with former Celt Shaun Maloney taking charge of his third match as manager.

However, all eyes were on the new signings as Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate made their first appearances in the Hoops.

But the visitors almost spoiled the welcome party inside three minutes, as Kevin Nisbet looked certain to tap home a dangerous cross from close range, but he could only poke the ball onto the post.

Maeda, fresh from arriving as the top scorer in the J-League for 2021, was known for his goalscoring exploits in Japan and in just five minutes he proved the language of putting the ball in the net could transfer to Scottish football.

Winning the ball deep inside the Hibs half from their own throw in, the ball fell to the feet of Tom Rogic who had the easy task of crossing to Maeda who was unmarked in the box.

With a first time swipe of the right foot, he smashed the ball past Matt Macey into the bottom right corner to get his first goal for the Hoops and the 5000^th of the Scottish Premiership era.

Fresh from the winter break, Ange Postecoglou’s side were playing with superb intensity as they went on the search for the second goal.

Carl Starfelt went close with a header on 14 minutes, while Rogic had a volleyed attempt whizz just wide.

Then in 24 minutes, another bright attacking move brought the opportunity to add the second. Greg Taylor’s precise clipped ball found Liel Abada inside the area, but his path was diverted by the arm of Josh Doig and the penalty was awarded.

With a 100% record from the spot this season, Juranovic seemed like he was never going to miss, sending Macey the wrong way to slot the ball into the bottom right corner and double the lead.

Having watched his fellow debutant get on the scoresheet, Hatate looked like he wanted in on the action himself, but the midfielder saw a thumping volley from 20 yards out saved well by Macey.

The former Kawasaki Frontale man was enjoying his first experience of Paradise and on the stroke of half-time he did superbly to beat his marker and find Abada on the edge of the penalty box, but he could only slice his effort wide as the whistle went for half-time.

Maeda's debut goal helps Celtic enter 2022 with all three points against Hibernian