Daizen Maeda Celebrates 100th Celtic Appearance With Stellar Hat-Trick Against Livingston

Daizen Maeda's stellar performance marked his 100th appearance for Celtic in a memorable fashion, netting a hat-trick that propelled the team into the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup semi-finals. The match against Livingston was a thrilling encounter, with Celtic securing a 4-2 victory despite being pushed to their limits by the cinch Premiership's bottom team.

Livingston showed resilience by equalising twice through Daniel MacKay and Tete Yengi, challenging Celtic at their home ground. However, Maeda's decisive goal in the 86th minute, his third of the match, and a late goal from substitute Kyogo Furuhashi in stoppage time sealed the win for the holders. This victory sets up a much-anticipated trip to Hampden next month for Celtic.

Injuries played a significant role in the match's dynamics, with Celtic missing key players Callum McGregor and Cameron Carter-Vickers. Carter-Vickers was sidelined as a precaution due to a hamstring concern, while Luis Palma was also unavailable. Nicolas Kuhn stepped up, making his first start at Celtic Park and contributing significantly to the team's performance.

Livingston faced their own set of challenges, with Jason Holt and Andrew Shinnie missing out due to illness and injury, respectively. Despite these setbacks, David Martindale's team showed commendable spirit, with Jamie Brandon and Steven Bradley stepping into central roles.

The match had its share of dramatic moments, starting with an early scare for Celtic when Ayo Obileye hit the post. Maeda opened the scoring in the seventh minute, capitalising on an excellent cross from Kuhn. Livingston responded quickly with MacKay's equaliser, only for Maeda to put Celtic ahead once again.

Livi managed to level the score in the second half through Yengi's brilliant finish. However, Celtic's persistence paid off with Maeda completing his hat-trick and Furuhashi adding a fourth goal after a VAR review overturned an offside decision.

Looking Ahead

Celtic's victory over Livingston not only highlights their ambition to retain the Scottish Cup but also showcases the depth of talent within their squad. Despite missing key players, others stepped up to ensure their team's progression to the semi-finals. With this win, Celtic continues its quest for silverware this season, demonstrating resilience and teamwork.

The contributions of players like Nicolas Kuhn and the impact of substitutes such as Kyogo Furuhashi and James Forrest underline the strength of Celtic's squad. As they prepare for their next Hampden outing, Celtic will be buoyed by this performance but aware of the challenges that lie ahead in their pursuit of cup glory.