Daizen Maeda played a decisive role as Celtic F.C. earned a hard-fought point against Rangers F.C. at Ibrox on Sunday.
Initially deployed on the left by Martin O’Neill, Maeda was moved into a central role after Celtic went 2-0 down at half-time. The tactical tweak proved significant. According to Kris Boyd, Rangers’ defenders were “terrified” of the Japanese forward’s pace in the build-up to the penalty that followed Dujon Sterling’s handball.
Maeda’s movement dragged John Souttar beyond the front post before he created space to win the header that sparked the decisive moment. Boyd praised the forward’s sharpness but criticised Rangers’ defensive unit, questioning their positioning and reaction. He highlighted Oscar Cortes’ positioning and described the backline as flat-footed, insisting the fear of Maeda’s speed played a major part.
Although Maeda has not quite reached the levels he has shown in previous Old Firm encounters this season, he once again proved influential on the big stage — even with James Tavernier watching from the bench after years of struggling against him.
Looking ahead to the Scottish Cup clash at Ibrox, O’Neill faces a selection dilemma. Much may depend on the midweek trip to Aberdeen and whether Sebastian Tounekti or Tomas Cvancara stake a claim. Despite his contribution, Maeda’s 6.1 Sofascore rating suggests debate remains over whether he should start the cup showdown.
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