Explained: How Daizen Maeda’s Goal vs Brugge Made Celtic Champions League History

It was as spectacular as unexpected, but that sums up Daizen Maeda as a Footballer.

In dire need of an early second-half response, the electric Japanese winger stepped up for Celtic and lifted them from the doldrums of disappointment against Club Brugge.

Linking up well with the immediately impactful Alex Valle, Maeda adeptly turned inside and caressed the ball into the far corner of Simon Mignolet’s net via the post.

Parkhead exploded, with hopes soon high of a quick-fire second. It never came, but Celtic can take utmost heart from their well earned, valuable point.

They also made History with Maeda’s goal last night (BBC). Indeed, it brought their league phase tally to 10 after five Games. That is the most goals Celtic have ever scored in a UEFA Champions League campaign since the comPetition was rebranded in the early 1990s. It is also the most they’ve bagged in Europe’s top club comPetition since the 1977/78 campaign when they netted 13.

Maeda’s thunderous strike, therefore, was equally as crucial as it was historic.

The ”-year-old was one of Celtic’s most lively attacking customers yesterday evening and was handed UEFA’s official Player of the Match award for his exploits.

Continually reliable, Maeda and his team’s attention now turns back to the domestic scene, where Ross County awaits on Saturday afternoon.