Decisive figure swings derby Celtic's way with second half brace | OneFootball

Daizen Maeda put Celtic ahead in the 53rd minute with a guided finish, and the hosts beat Rangers 3-1. His second, an overhead kick, capped a ruthless burst after the restart.

The Bhoys' switch down the left paid off as Kieran Tierney drove a low ball across for Maeda to steer inside the far post (53.). The run across the front line lost his marker and flipped the derby's momentum.

Moments later he improvised brilliantly, controlling a deflection from Sebastian Tounekti's cross before acrobatically lifting an overhead beyond Jack Butland (57.). The technique and speed of thought killed Rangers' response window.

He finished with four attempts, two on target, and seven touches in the box, underlining a constant penalty-area presence. He also won two tackles and completed two dribbles, mixing penalty-box sharpness with out-of-possession graft.

The Hoops repeatedly fed the left channel, and Maeda's near-post surges and recovery runs kept Rangers' centre-backs off balance. His five ball recoveries sustained Celtic pressure through the game's key phases.

The Bhoys visit Motherwell next in the Premiership, while Rangers host Hibernian.