The Japanese forward bagged a hat trick as the cup holders coasted into the last eight
Goal machine Daizen Maeda hit a treble - and his 50th Celtic goal - to fire an experimental Hoops side past Raith into the Scottish Cup quarter finals.
But you wouldn’t have known. It took just six minutes for the Hoops to get their noses in front. McCowan fed Maeda 20 yards out and, although the Japanese failed to get the ball under control first time, it broke kindly to Bernardo who quick as a flash played Maeda back in and he bent a low shot past Josh Rae from 16 yards.
Raith’s tiring legs and minds wouldn’t have been keen on the site of Jota and Arne Engels entering the action after But it was that man Maeda who nabbed his hat trick on 77 minutes to end the scoring as he darted in off the right flank to get in on front of Lewis Stevenson and tap McCowan’s cross home.
His first goal was clinical, his second all about positioning and his third a typical dart in at the back post. The 27-year-old looks to have tidied up his touch this season but more than anything his sharp movement, dropping deep then racing in behind, and blistering pace wasn’t too dissimilar to Kyogo at his peak. He can’t play any part against Bayern due to suspension. But Maeda will be a huge figure for the Hoops in the next four months in any of the three forward areas.
Schlupp eased through 71 minutes before being replaced by Maik Nawrocki, the loanee left back pushed up through the middle to help overload the midfield and show his versatility and comfort on the ball. Murray - making only his second start and first since 2021 - had a comfortable evening beside Liam Scales at centre half but after his cameo at Villa Park last week the 21-year-old looks comfortable playing out from the back.
Raith Rovers FC Brendan Rodgers Barry Robson Scottish Cup Daizen Maeda Yang Hyeon-Jun Luke Mccowan
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