Better than Maeda: Celtic star just proved he's more important than Engels
da bwin： Celtic are through to the final of the SFA Cup after they cruised their way to a 5-0 win over Scottish Premiership side St. Johnstone at Hampden Park on Sunday.
da 888casino： The Hoops scored four times in the first half to blow their opponents away and seal their spot in the final with ease, thanks to two goals from Daizen Maeda and strikes from Callum McGregor, Adam Idah, and Jota.
There were a number of impressive performers on the pitch for Brendan Rodgers in this comfortable win, including Japanese forward Maeda.
Daizen Maeda's performance against St. Johnstone
The Japan international started the game on the left flank, with Idah through the middle as the centre-forward, and extended his tally to 33 goals in all competitions this season.
Daizen Maeda’s last ten appearances for Celtic
Opposition
Goals
Assists
St. Johnstone (SFA Cup)
2
0
Kilmarnock (Premiership)
1
0
St. Johnstone (Premiership)
0
0
Hearts (Premiership)
2
0
Rangers (Premiership)
1
0
Hibernian (SFA Cup)
1
0
St Mirren (Premiership)
1
0
Aberdeen (Premiership)
2
0
Hibernian (Premiership)
1
0
Bayern Munich (Champions League)
0
0
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Maeda has been in exceptional form, particularly recently, with 11 goals in his last ten games in all competitions.
Both of his goals in this clash with St. Johnstone came in similar circumstances. The first was a pass from McGregor that provided him with a chance to roll the ball into the bottom right corner, before he faced up a defender and rolled the ball into the same corner for his second goal, just inside the box on the left side.
Maeda was not the only top performer at the top end of the pitch for the Hoops in this semi-final clash, though, as Reo Hatate was even better than him and proved why he is even more important than Engels.
Why Reo Hatate is more important than Arne Engels
The Japan international delivered a sensational performance in the middle of the park for the Scottish giants, particularly in the opening 45 minutes, and was even better than Maeda, as he was involved in three of the goals.
He was directly involved in the opening goal from Callum McGregor with a clever, inventive, backheel to the skipper on the edge of the box, teeing him up to find the back of the net.
Hatate, who earned a player rating of 8/10 from 67HailHail, then made a brilliant run down the left and delivered a perfect cross for Adam Idah for the third goal, putting the ball on a plate for the striker to convert.
The Japanese midfielder completed his hat-trick of assists with his play in the clip above, dribbling into the box to tee up Maeda for his second of the game. These three assists show that he was even better than his international teammate because he was at the heart of everything for the Hoops, whilst the winger provided the final action for just two of the goals and did not register any assists.
Hatate has now hit ten goals and nine assists in all competitions in the current campaign, and all of those goals came from open play. Whereas, Engels has scored two goals and provided 12 assists, excluding the eight penalties he has scored, which means that the Japan international has provided more at the top end of the pitch from open play.
Engels, who earned a player rating of 6/10 from 67HailHail against St. Johnstone, has not been as consistent as his midfield teammate as a goalscoring threat, as is to be expected of a young player in his first season in Scotland.
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In the here and now, though, Hatate is even more important than Engels on current form with his contributions at the top end of the pitch, after another stunning display on Sunday.
