Daizen Maeda and Callum McGregor were the key players in Celtic’s gritty 2-1 win over Kilmarnock in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup at Celtic Park.
The match, characterized by missed chances from the Hoops, ultimately saw the duo step up to secure the win.
McGregor opened the scoring with a stunning long-range effort in the 12th minute, continuing his reputation for spectacular strikes this season.
Later, in the 70th minute, Maeda marked his return from injury with the winning goal.
Nicolas Kühn provided the assist, threading a perfect through ball to the Japanese winger, who showed composure to beat substitute goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara.
Celtic fans have grown accustomed to McGregor’s brilliance from distance, with memorable goals against Rangers, Hibernian, and St Mirren.
For Maeda, whose finishing has been questioned in the past, his calmness under pressure was a reminder of the value he brings to the team, especially after a brief absence due to injury.
Post-Match Reactions
Speaking after the game, Maeda and McGregor shared their thoughts on the victory.
When asked by Connie McLaughlin how he felt about progressing to the next round, Maeda kept it simple:
“I am happy to score a goal and win. Yeah, I am happy.”
McGregor, meanwhile, reflected on the missed opportunities that made the game more tense than it needed to be, resulting in Derek McInnes claiming Hoops were favoured by the Referee as Maeda’s goal shouldn’t have stood to begin with:
“The job is to be in the next round of the hat, and we’ve done that today. There was some unbelievable football at times, I can’t believe it’s only 2-1. We created so many chances, and on another day, it could’ve been so comfortable for us. So, a wee bit of work to do on the finishing, but the guys have been superb all season. The main thing is our name’s in the hat for the next round.”
The captain acknowledged the challenges posed by Kilmarnock and stressed the need for greater efficiency in front of goal:
“It’s always a tough game, a little bit of man-to-man stuff, so you’ve got to open the pitch and get running. But the game should’ve been more comfortable than it was.
“The finishing level from the boys has been unbelievable all season, but especially in cup games. If you can make the game more comfortable for yourself early on, we should probably have been 3 or 4 up in the first 25 minutes. Sometimes you just get games like that.”
A Hard-Fought Win with Bigger Challenges Ahead
While Celtic’s inability to capitalize on their dominance may raise some concerns, their ability to create numerous chances was a positive takeaway.
A 2-1 victory over Premiership opposition in a knockout competition is no small feat, and the Hoops demonstrated resilience to see the game out.
As Celtic prepare for a pivotal Champions League clash against Young Boys at Celtic Park, Brendan Rodgers will be looking for his side to rediscover their clinical edge.
With a chance to secure a spot in the Champions League knockout playoffs, the stakes are high, and Rodgers will want his players to seize the opportunity to make history.
Despite the missed chances in this match, the victory over Kilmarnock keeps Celtic on track in their pursuit of silverware.
As the season progresses, the team’s ability to find the killer instinct in front of goal could be the key to unlocking even greater success.
