Daizen Maeda was Celtic’s standout performer once more because the Hoops returned to profitable methods towards Hearts to maneuver nearer to a different Scottish Premiership title.
Brendan Rodgers was eager for Celtic to make amends for his or her Outdated Agency defeat and Maeda despatched them on their manner early on when he fired low into the underside nook.
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda celebrates scoring to make it 1-0
Shortly after, Jota was ready to slam residence the rebound after the Japan worldwide’s header crashed off the put up as Celtic stamped their authority on the sport.
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They had been rampant and Maeda made it 30 objectives this season he as transformed from Nicolas Kuhn’s well-timed cross to place them out of attain earlier than half-time.
Neil Critchley’s Hearts struggled towards the champions who had possibilities to increase their lead, however they continue to be sixth with two video games to play earlier than the Scottish Premiership break up.
Magical Maeda
Maeda has scored 30 objectives for Celtic this season in all competitions
Celtic are eager to supply Maeda a brand new deal and he confirmed precisely why the membership wish to maintain onto him as he scored for the eighth league sport in succession.
Hearts had made a full of life begin and Viljami Sinisalo made a point-blank cease from Lewis Neilson following a nook because the Finnish goalkeeper made his league debut rather than the injured Kasper Schmeichel.
A lot of the early play was within the Celtic half however a penetrating transfer noticed the hosts go from again to entrance in devastating trend. Jeffrey Schlupp’s first-time move allowed Callum McGregor to drive past the Hearts midfield and play the ball in behind Neilson for Maeda to run onto. The centre-forward delivered an assured right-footed end into the underside nook.
Hearts continued to push males ahead and Michael Steinwender fired not far over from 25 yards earlier than Maeda was once more concerned as Celtic doubled their lead within the twenty fourth minute.
Celtic’s Jota celebrates scoring to make it 2-0
Maeda ran on to Nicolas Kuhn’s deft move excessive and despatched a backwards header off the put up earlier than Jota raced in to slam residence the rebound.
Schlupp compelled a save from Craig Gordon after a solo run earlier than James Wilson missed Hearts’ finest probability when he despatched a free header huge from six yards following an ideal cross from James Penrice.
Celtic once more sliced via Hearts with a collection of ahead passes as they wrapped up the three factors within the forty first minute.
Maeda scores to make it 3-0
Centre-back Maik Nawrocki began the transfer and Reo Hatate stretched to ship the ball via for Kuhn to race down the correct wing. The German winger delivered Maeda’s thirtieth aim of the season on a plate with an ideal low cross to the far put up, the place Celtic’s high goalscorer’s tempo had taken him.
Jota and Hatate threatened earlier than the break and Hearts head coach Neil Critchley seemingly opted for harm limitation at half-time, eradicating new Scotland ahead Wilson and bringing on defensive midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof.
Celtic’s James Forrest made his first look since December
McGregor compelled a diving cease from former team-mate Gordon however the second half was in any other case one thing of a non-event, though Rodgers received Paulo Bernardo and James Forrest again into motion after lay-offs.
Rodgers: ‘We count on him to attain!’
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Brendan Rodgers on Daizen Maeda’s contract scenario after the ahead scored two in his one hundred and fiftieth look for Celtic as they beat Hearts 3-0.
Celtic supervisor Brendan Rodgers advised Sky Sports activities Information how vital Maeda is for Celtic:
“If you happen to have a look at his document over the course of the season, as soon as he is in there, we count on him to attain.
“He is been an actual pivotal participant for us wherever he is performed. And I’ve mentioned many occasions he can play in that central place, his penetration in behind, his set-up play in the primary was good.
“It is a man who’s travelled midway all over the world to play [after Japan duty] so I am actually happy with the efficiency general.
“[His contract] is one thing with the membership. I feel the membership will converse to his representatives and we’ll do the whole lot we are able to, however my focus is on the crew and the soccer.
“He is a high participant. He is nonetheless contracted effectively to the membership, however he is certainly one of our greatest gamers so we wish to give him that worth.”
Critchley takes ‘nice coronary heart’ from efficiency
Hearts head coach Neil Critchely advised Sky Sports activities Information he stays assured of a top-six end:
“I take nice coronary heart from the way in which the gamers performed the sport right this moment.
“We have to get higher at how we’re attempting to play for longer, and doing that towards high opposition, and the one manner you do that’s to do it on the pitch.
“The gamers have achieved that, and the rules of how we play the sport, I all the time need them to be how they had been within the first half, and subsequent week, that is how we’ll go and assault the sport once more.
“With the opposite outcomes going the way in which they’ve gone right this moment, it is not been too damaging for us, so we simply have to maneuver on from this sport.”
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