In a dazzling display of football, Daizen Maeda powered Celtic into the Scottish League Cup final, where his hat-trick spearheaded a 6-0 demolition of Aberdeen at Hampden Park on Saturday. This victory not only secured Celtic’s spot in the final against either Rangers or Motherwell on December 15 but sent shockwaves across the football world as Brendan Rodgers’ squad decimated the previously unbeaten Aberdeen.
The Dons entered this semi-final clash with high hopes and an impressive resume, having won 15 matches and drawn one under the stewardship of their new manager, Jimmy Thelin. Their 21-match unbeaten streak painted them as a formidable opponent, especially since their last loss came against Celtic in a tense penalty shootout in the Scottish Cup semi-final at the same famous stadium last season.
Aberdeen, buoyed by their recent results, including a resilient 2-2 draw at Celtic Park and a convincing midweek victory over Rangers, were anticipating a potential upset. Their fans journeyed over to Glasgow, filled with hope of a historic win at the national stadium, their first since 1992. However, the Dons’ hopes were dashed in brutal fashion as they were overrun by a relentless Celtic side on either side of halftime, resulting in Thelin’s first taste of defeat while at the helm of Aberdeen.
The opening of the game was slightly delayed by 13 minutes due to a colorful pre-match pyrotechnic display, which unfortunately caused visibility issues for the VAR technology. Nonetheless, once the game commenced, Celtic wasted no time in stamping their authority. The first goal was initiated by Cameron Carter-Vickers, who adeptly converted Engels’ corner with a well-placed header in the 29th minute, marking the beginning of Aberdeen’s woes.
Just three minutes later, Celtic capitalized on a counter-attack; Maeda intercepted a misplaced pass intended for Slobodan Rubezic and quickly set up Kyogo Furuhashi, whose shot hit the underside of the bar and found its way into the net, doubling the lead.
. As the first half drew to a close, Maeda managed to break free after an exquisite pass from Nicolas Kuhn to score Celtic’s third, showcasing his speed and precision as he outmaneuvered Nicky Devlin.
As the second half unfolded, the Scottish champions continued to pile on the pressure. It took a mere four minutes after the break for Maeda to net his second, and Celtic’s fourth. This time, after Kuhn’s dynamic run and attempt, Maeda coolly slotted in the rebound. On the hour mark, Engels played a pivotal role once again, assisting Kuhn whose curling effort from just inside the penalty box rattled the bar, leaving the Aberdeen goalkeeper helpless.
With just minutes left on the clock, Maeda saved one last piece of brilliance to complete his hat-trick by confidently tapping in from Alistair Johnston’s cross, sealing the significant victory for Celtic and consigning Aberdeen to an ending they’d rather forget.
This match not only underscored Celtic’s dominance but left Aberdeen to ponder how quickly fortunes can change in football. Despite the defeat, Aberdeen’s impressive unbeaten run under Thelin remains a testament to their potential in the upcoming games and competitions.
The conversation around Scottish football will undoubtedly grow louder as fans and pundits process the scope of Celtic’s triumph and Aberdeen’s bitter collapse. Meanwhile, excitement builds around the impending final, with fans eager to see who among Rangers or Motherwell will rise to face the current Scottish champions, Celtic, in what promises to be a thrilling clash on December 15. As the dust settles on this significant semi-final, one thing is abundantly clear – Celtic are on a mission, and it will take something extraordinary to halt their journey to the League Cup trophy.
