Celtic player ratings vs Rangers: Daizen Maeda stuns as Auston Trusty fails to impress
Celtic forward Daizen Maeda scored two second half goals to earn the Hoops a huge three points in a 3-1 win against rivals Rangers.
It was Rangers who got off to a flyer at Celtic Park, as Mikey Moore was left with an open goal to give Danny Rohl's side the lead inside the opening 10 minutes.
The home side though managed to respond mid-way through the first half, when Arne Engels found Hyun-Jun Yang inside the penalty area to fire home.
Celtic dominated the second half, with Maeda proving the difference, including scoring an outrageous overhead kick past a helpless Jack Butland.
The victory means Celtic remain on course for the Scottish Premiership title after Hearts dropped points at Motherwell.
Auston Trusty could be axed after defensive struggles
It was a tough first half for defender Auston Trusty, with Rangers striker Youssef Chermiti continually getting the better of the 27-year-old.
Trusty could not deal with Chermiti's presence, and Celtic's defence looked disjoined at times when Rangers came forward, whilst Alistair Johnston found himself too far forward for Moore's goal.
| Minutes Played | 90 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 |
| Dribbled Past | 2 |
| Duels Won | 7/12 |
| Ground Duels Won | 2/5 |
Some of Rangers' attacks came from simple long balls forward, which Trusty failed to deal with on numerous occasions.
Sources told Football Insider that West Brom centre-back George Campbell is a possible target for Celtic this summer, and Trusty's first half showing proves that the club need to strengthen defensively.
Daizen Maeda salvages Celtic's attacking display
Martin O'Neill made just the one change from Celtic's last match at Hibernian, with Luke McCowan a surprise starter in place of Sebastian Tounekti down the right flank.
McCowan felt he was fouled in the build-up to Moore's opening goal, and the midfielder had to be stronger in moments to keep the ball, although his reverse pass to Engels, which made Celtic's equaliser, did perhaps show why he was in the team.
O'Neill decided to replace McCowan with Tounekti at half-time, and his second half display showed that Celtic need a new winger this summer.
However, Maeda's display up-front was a major positive for the Hoops going forward, with his tenacity and movement a huge threat in-behind Rangers' defence, and his hard work paid off when he scored that speculator overhead kick.
Celtic player ratings vs Rangers
- Viljami Sinisalo - 6
- Alistair Johnston - 6
- Auston Trusty - 4
- Liam Scales - 5
- Kieran Tierney - 7
- Callum McGregor - 7
- Arne Engels - 7
- Hyun-Jun Yang - 7
- Benjamin Nygren - 4
- Luke McCowan - 5
- Daizen Maeda - 9
Substitutes
- Sebastian Tounekti (On for McCowan 46') - 4
- Reo Hatate (On for Nygren 76') - 5
- Kelechi Iheanacho (On for Yang 81') - 5
- Anthony Ralston (On for Johnston 81') - 5
- Marcelo Saracchi (On for Tierney 84') - 5