LAND OF THE DAIZEN SUN

Magic man Maeda conjures crystalised course for charging Celtic.

""I couldn't be more delighted…Daizen has pulled it through again.”

Come May, Celtic usually have the league title won. An unprecedented period of success has seen Glasgow’s east end celebrate top flight victory in thirteen of the last fourteen seasons. Throw in five domestic trebles, four of which came in a row, and you’d have been mistaken for thinking this year would be another cakewalk. Surely it’d be simple? Just buy the best players, play the best football, tally the most points. Ticking all those boxes and taking home the trophy seems to be the formula for Celtic, right?

Well, not this year. Unlike many other campaigns, this has been anything but smooth sailing for Glasgow’s green and white. It started with the bust-up between Brendan Rodgers and largest shareholder Dermot Desmond, followed by the unmitigated disaster that was Wilfried Nancy. Now, the return of seventy-four year old club legend Martin O’Neill has contributed to one of the most exciting title races in all of Europe.

With eight domestic league losses for the first time in twenty-six years, may thought Celtic were dead and buried. Alas, champions are made of sterner stuff, and in recent times it appears that all this club knows is how to win. Breathing down the neck of leaders Hearts, Celtic’s mission is clear. Three wins will retain the title.

Slight issue however, today’s opponent is arch rivals Rangers. At this point it’s fairly unnecessary to go into the history between these two, but let’s just say we all know they aren’t very fond of each other. While the blue side of Glasgow have once again imploded under the pressures of a title race, losing back-to-back games against Motherwell and Hearts, they still have the chance to destroy the hopes of their greatest enemy.

Old Firm? Glasgow derby? Pacific Shelf 595 against Sevco 5088? Whichever side of the divide or liquidity expert you are, it’s Celtic versus Rangers. A storied rivalry between two fanbases that has captured the imagination for one-hundred and thirty-eight long years. Battle fever switched on once again, an explosion of colour and noise at Parkhead met the teams as they walked out from the tunnel.

So far, the head-to-head results in the league read: one Rangers win and two draws. In the cups: two Celtic wins. One of which arrived via penalty kicks at Ibrox, and sparked a rather tasty pitch invasion. Today, the picture was very clear. Both knew that a defeat for the home side would hand Hearts a gigantic advantage in this epic title race.

Early doors and it was blood and thunder as usual. Celtic’s Green Brigade, recently reintroduced after a stadium ban, brought some badly missed volume to this hallowed stadia as the teams tried to settle into the game. The Bhoys showed life early, but it would be the club south of the river that found the goal first.

Nine minutes into proceedings and Luke McCowan was caught in possession by Manny Fernandez, who released Youssef Chermiti. The Portguese forward sent an onrushing Auston Trusty for pies, before stabbing a finish towards goal. The shot bounced off Liam Scales towards a greatful Mikey Moore, the on-loan Spurs winger with a simple task of steering home.

Celtic knew that anything but a victory in this classic would put them in a very perilous position. They needed a response, and quickly. McCowan, who was at fault for the opener, grabbed the initiative. A gorgeous reverse ball found the charging Arne Engels, whose low cross flashed across the box. Arriving at the pefect time was Yang Hyun-jun. The South Korean stepped into contact and lashed the ball home.

Wait a minute though, VAR check inbound. By the letter of the law, this goal could’ve well been disallowed. As the asisst made its way into the area, goalkeeper Jack Butland’s sightline was momentarially blocked by Benjamin Nygren. After a few minutes of deliberation, John Beaton decided it wasn’t enough to warrant disallowing. All square in Glasgow.

In games such as these, it’s only a matter of time until a crunching challenge arrives. The flashpoint came when Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston flew into a tackle on Moore. At first, it looked clean. In fact, the decision from referee Nick Walsh to even book the Canadian seemed harsh. Replays showed something else.

While the ball was originally won, the follow through was high and Johnston’s studs had crashed right into the ankle of his opponent. All but last week, Hibs’ Jamie McGrath was given his marching orders for a not too dissimiliar challenge on Johnston himself. Maybe due to the nature of this rivalry, VAR decided not to intervene. Fans in blue were not impressed.

Much like last week at Tynecastle, Rangers came out for the second half flat. It has been noticed that under the stewardship of Danny Rohl that the Ibrox side tend to switch off far too often for a side with such suggested quality. Celtic, reenergised by the break, sensed an opportunity to strike and Daizen Maeda was mere inches away from making contact with a Nygren cross aimed to the back stick.

The warning signs were not addressed by Rangers, and soon after Kieran Tierney found himself around the back of oppostion captain James Tavenier. His cross found the cantering Maeda, who had slipped his marker in Fernandez. There was to be no reprieve for the away side this time around. The connection was true and left a floundering Butland no chance. Advantage Celtic.

The Hoops’ tails were up. Minutes after taking the lead, substitute Sebastian Tounekti tied up Tavenier before flashing in a cross. The ball was only half cleared by Connor Barron, finding its way into the path of Maeda. Whether intentional or not, the first touch of Celtic’s frontman lifted high and set him at the juncture of sheer improvisation. Contorting through the air, Maeda unleashed an arcobatic bicycle kick attempt.

For what felt like a moment in time, the whole of Scotland stood still. The collective inhalation of breath was palpable, as if all in attendance couldn’t believe what they had just seen. Travelling towards goal, the ball slowly descended from its zenith and dropped under Butland’s crossbar. The netminder left statuesque by the utter audacity of such a finish. Celtic Park erupted.

Truly, it was a stunning goal. In a situation of such magnitude, the execution was immaculate. A scenario whereby if Celtic were to lose this match, their title ambitions were all but extinguished. The resulting frame had near uncountable reactions of astonishment. Engels cemented with hands on head, Johnston arms aloft, Tierney and Tounekti wheeling away in joy, Nygren and Yang short-circuiting before realising what had just been witnessed. As for the crowd? Absolute bedlam.

Throughout this year, Celtic have really struggled. Maeda, one of the central figures of this team, has not been exempt of criticism. At one point, the forward went seventeen consective games without registering a goal. Many questioned whether or not the Japanese international should even make the starting eleven after his slump in form. One thing is for certain though, in these last few weeks he looks reinvigorated. If this is to be his last few games in green and white, the desire to end with a league title is clear to see.

Continuing to chase down loose balls and pressure Rangers’ backline, Maeda was quite rightly announced as man of the match over Parkhead’s tannoy system. As much as Rohl’s men huffed and puffed in the closing stages, it to was to no avail. The closest they came was through replacement Bojan Miovski, his header sounding off the crossbar in additional time. Celtic had done enough to run the clock and secure a much needed victory.

On Wednesday, Celtic go again. The trip to an impressive Motherwell by no means a formality.

Victory would set up the most appetising domestic clash in decades. A final day decider between themselves and Hearts.

For now, it’s but one down and two to go.

Full time, Celtic 3-1 Rangers.

LAND OF THE DAIZEN SUN

Magic man Maeda conjures crystalised course for charging Celtic.

LA FAMILIA BLAUGRANA