Daizen Maeda emerged as the hero for Celtic, delivering the decisive penalty in a thrilling League Cup final against Rangers at Hampden Park. The match, which ended 3-3 after extra time, saw Celtic edge past the holders in a dramatic shootout, keeping Brendan Rodgers’ side on track for a domestic treble.
The final was filled with twists and turns. Rangers took the lead early in the first half when Nedim Bajrami capitalized on a defensive mistake by Greg Taylor. However, Taylor redeemed himself after the break, scoring Celtic’s equalizer to set up a tense second half. Maeda then showcased his clinical finishing, firing Celtic into the lead, but Mohamed Diomande struck back to level the score for Rangers.
The drama intensified when Nicolas Kuhn restored Celtic’s advantage late in the game, only for Rangers substitute Danilo to respond immediately, forcing extra time. Both sides pushed for a winner during the additional 30 minutes, but neither could break the deadlock, sending the final to penalties.
In the shootout, Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel delivered a pivotal save, denying Ridvan Yilmaz. It set the stage for Maeda, who coolly slotted the winning penalty, sealing the victory and maintaining Rodgers’ unbeaten record at Hampden Park.
For Rangers boss Philippe Clement, the result marked another frustrating outing in the Old Firm rivalry, as he continues to search for his first victory against Celtic. Meanwhile, the Hoops celebrated another triumph, reinforcing their dominance in Scottish football and moving a step closer to completing the treble.
