Entering the clash with an impressive record of having secured 15 victories and only one draw under the tenure of manager Jimmy Thelin, Aberdeen came into the Scottish League Cup semi-final brimming with confidence and carrying hopes of achieving a landmark victory. However, these aspirations were quashed as a resurgent Celtic team, inspired by a sensational hat-trick from Daizen Maeda, dismantled the visitors with a resounding 6-0 triumph at Hampden Park on Saturday.
Aberdeen’s fans had traveled en masse to Glasgow, holding onto the dream of witnessing their team overcome Celtic at the national stage for the first time since 1992. Yet their hopes were dashed as they watched their side suffer its first defeat under Thelin’s stewardship. Celtic, the reigning Scottish champions, were in no mood for mercy as they delivered a masterclass in football, fueled by the attacking prowess of the Japanese forward, Maeda.
The victory secured Celtic a place in the League Cup final, where they are set to face either Rangers or Motherwell on December 15. The match kicked off amid delay, as an exuberant pre-match pyrotechnic display from fans of both sides caused visibility issues for the VAR technologies, pushing the start back by 13 minutes. Once the play resumed, Celtic swiftly took control of proceedings.
Cameron Carter-Vickers ignited the fireworks on the field for Celtic in the 29th minute, when he ascended to meet a precise corner delivery from Engels, heading home the opening goal that set the tone for the rest of the match. Just three minutes later, Celtic capitalized on a swift counter-attack. Predatory as ever, Maeda seized on a loose pass intended for Aberdeen’s Slobodan Rubezic, feeding the ball to Kyogo Furuhashi who elegantly finished with a strike off the underside of the crossbar, doubling Celtic’s advantage.
Aberdeen’s defenses were breached yet again in the 40th minute.
. This time it was Nicolas Kuhn who split the Aberdeen lines with a deft through ball, allowing Maeda to sprint clear of Nicky Devlin and slot the ball home, adding Celtic’s third goal and further cementing their dominance.
The second half began as the first ended, with Celtic in relentless pursuit of goals. Just four minutes post-interval, Kuhn embarked on an audacious run from the halfway line, weaving through the Aberdeen defense before Maeda capitalized on a parried shot, driving home the rebound and completing his hat-trick with a flourish.
However, Celtic’s appetite for goals was far from sated. In the 59th minute, Engels again proved instrumental, redirecting the play towards Kuhn, who curled an exquisite shot off the bar from inside the area, adding a fifth goal to Celtic’s tally. The dominance culminated with Maeda rubbing salt into Aberdeen’s wounds, calmly tapping in a cross from Alistair Johnston in the dying minutes of the game to finalize the scoreline at 6-0.
Despite Aberdeen’s remarkable prior record, which included a 21-match unbeaten streak following their last penalty shootout loss to Celtic in last season’s Scottish Cup semi-finals, Celtic displayed an unassailable form that left their opponents bereft of answers. Notably, a 2-2 draw against Celtic in their recent league meeting and a midweek victory over Rangers had initially raised hopes that Aberdeen could pose a significant challenge to Brendan Rodgers’ side.
However, on this occasion, Celtic’s festive exploits on the pitch outshone those in the stands, with their emphatic victory serving notice that they remain the team to beat in Scottish football. The spotlight, undoubtedly, was on Daizen Maeda, as his trio of goals not only propelled Celtic into yet another domestic final but underscored his invaluable contribution to a side with lofty ambitions of silverware.
The comprehensive victory continues to affirm Celtic’s dominance on Scottish soil, sending a clear message of their competitive edge as they edge closer to yet another piece of silverware. For Aberdeen, it marks a substantial setback, bringing their impressive run to an unexpected halt and leaving manager Thelin with much to ponder ahead of their subsequent fixtures.
