JAPAN ON A MISSION
Daizen off to a flier with early Hoops goal as countrymen also make debuts
DAIZEN MAEDA pretty rapid impression.
If he keeps this up, absent countryman Kyogo Furuhashi might not be so badly missed.
The Japanese was unleashed by boss Ange Postecoglou and needed just four minutes to display his finishing prowess to set his new team on their way to a terrific success which moved them just three points off the Premiership summit.
Hibs will ponder what could have been had Kevin Nisbet shown Maeda’s killer instinct just before the opener, but this was the Celtic new boy’s night.
He may have struggled to have the overall influence on a game of Furuhashi, but that was understandable on his debut. Most crucially, when his big chance arrived, he was just as clinical in front of goal.
With fellow debutant Reo Hatate excellent with crisp passing and swift movement, there was plenty for the Celtic fans to enjoy.
The Harry Potter fan sprinkled moments of stardust across this win which was secured before the interval by Josip Juranovic’s penalty.
Celtic were blistering for the most part after Nisbet’s howler to move 18 games unbeaten domestically and close the gap at the top. Having sunk the same opposition at Hampden a month ago to bag the first of silverware of the season, Celtic kept on course for the biggest prize of the lot.
Shaun Maloney was still waiting to take charge of Hibs at that point. Now in position, he couldn’t change the outcome as his team slipped to a first loss on his watch.
With three new signings all getting an outing and attacking weapons Jota, James Forrest and Giorgos Giakoumakis getting back from injury, it was just about a perfect return to business for Postecoglou. It was a must-win for Celtic. And in front of a rammed Parkhead, they did the job.
The match needed no buildup. Fans starved of football for over three weeks flocked to their seats to energise the place and light shows illuminated the stadium beforehand.
It continued to flash and shimmer during an astonishing opening four minutes where Hibs really should have taken the lead before Celtic did.
It was a staggering opening which was sparked when Nisbet somehow contrived to miss a sitter which seemed easier to net.
Martin Boyle released an overlapping Chris Cadden down the right and his low centre offered the Scotland striker a back post tap-in.
But, instead of slotting home, Nisbet poked a finish against a post.
If that hurt, so did the ruthless punishment dished out just seconds later when Maeda struck.
It all stemmed from another Hibs error. Possession was surrendered by Josh Campbell deep in his own territory allowing Tom Rogic to pick out an easy pass into the Japanese.
Maeda could not have dreamed of a better first opportunity and he wasn’t going to waste it.
His low strike eased past keeper Matt Macey and the roof almost came off.
From potentially 1-0 up to
1-0 down, these were selfinflicted hammer blows to Maloney, who already had bodies missing through injury, unavailability and suspension.
Boyle started after his Saudi links and so did new boy Rocky Bushiri in the backline but they were under pressure.
As well as Maeda, boss Postecoglou unleashed Hatate with Forrest and they were involved in a move which led to a Rogic volley flying wide.
Forrest had another volley blocked as Celtic hounded Hibs into more errors.
Rogic really should have released Liel Abada when gifted the ball again by Bushiri.
However, when the Israeli did get a chance to escape, it ended with referee Willie
Collum awarding a 24thminute penalty.
Greg Taylor’s floated through pass saw Abada try to flick it beyond defenders in the box and it hit the arm of Josh Doig.
Collum delayed before pointing to the spot, yet there was no hesitation from Juranovic, who maintained his unblemished penalty record by slamming the ball home as Macey went the wrong way.
Doig was raging at the award and goodness knows how Nisbet by then.
He must have been praying for another chance to make amends for his nightmare and had a scuffed shot before Juranovic blocked a follow up from Campbell.
At the other end, it was just as important Hibs managed to avoid any further damage before the break and Macey had to punch away a Hatete strike from the edge of the box.
Forrest had his next effort flicked off target by a last-ditch defensive boot.
The excruciating pain felt by Drey Wright when he got in the way of a rifled Hatate effort must have been suffered by everyone inside the visiting dressing room at the interval.
Celtic came out to finish it. Abada stung Macey’s palms and Hatate shot wide as the hosts roared into the restart.
Hibs didn’t give it up. Wright and Nisbet were both waiting for a Boyle centre which Cameron Carter-Vickers did well to cut out. Abada could have sealed the three points at the back post when Carl Starfelt’s glancing header from a Juranovic corner flashed to him, but he and the ball clattered the post.
After a blistering hour, Postecoglou’s men lost a bit of fizz and he responded by sending on Yosuke Ideguchi, Giakoumakis and Mikey Johnston as Hatate and Maeda got standing ovations.
The biggest cheer of the lot came for Jota’s reappearance as the Portuguese came back from six weeks out to replace Forrest, but it was Rogic who almost put the seal on it when he rolled just wide near the finish.
It didn’t matter. Daizen had already Maeda the major mark.