Maeda the penalty hero as Celtic beat Rangers to lift League Cup

Daizen Maeda was Celtic’s penalty hero as they beat holders Rangers to win the League Cup in a frantic final at Hampden Park that finished 3-3 after extra time.

The winger scored the winning spot kick after scoring in a dramatic encounter as Philippe Clement was left still searching for his first win against their Old Firm rivals.

It was a drama-filled encounter as Greg Taylor made amends for gifting Nedim Bajrami the opener for Rangers by equalising after the break.

A clinical finish from Maeda put Celtic ahead again only for Mohamed Diomande to pull Rangers back level. Nicolas Kuhn thought he had wrapped up the win for Celtic, only for Gers’ substitution Danilo to respond immediately to take the game to extra time.

Kasper Schmeichel denied Ridvan Yilmaz from the spot, with Maeda securing the win to maintain Brendan Rodgers’ winning Hampden record and keep the Hoops on course for a domestic treble.

Celtic’s domestic dominance continues

A Glasgow derby classic was preceded by incidents off the field.

Both sets of fans set off pyrotechnics which engulfed the stadium in smoke, despite both clubs being under investigation for the same behaviour in their respective semi-finals.

It was the usual frantic start with the first chance falling Rangers’ way when Ianis Hagi latched onto a loose ball at the back post, but Kasper Schmeichel palmed his effort away before Cameron Carter-Vickers cleared the danger.

Jack Butland then produced a brilliant double save to deny Nicolas Kuhn and Reo Hatate on the rebound before Kyogo Furuhashi forced him into another save soon after.

It was end to end and Schmeichel reacted to stop Leon Balogun’s header as James Tavernier’s cross set up a brilliant chance for Rangers.

The match was lacking in real quality in the opening half but Nedim Bajrami opened the scoring before the break after Greg Taylor’s mistake allowed Bajrami to burst forward to set up Hamza Igamane. The striker was denied by Schmeichel, but Bajrami was there to fire in the rebound.

Brendan Rodgers made an enforced half-time change with Liam Scales replacing the injured Auston Trusty as Celtic looked for a way back into the final.

The defender headed just wide from Paulo Bernardo’s free-kick before another Taylor mistake left Carter-Vickers on four Rangers players – where he managed a last-ditch challenge to stop Igamane from doubling their lead.

Butland then denied Kuhn and Kyogo went close before Taylor made up for his mistakes as his strike took a huge deflection and sailed past the Gers keeper and into the net.

That lifted Celtic and McGregor fired over the bar before a sensational finish from Maeda sent Celtic ahead, the winger bringing down the ball before firing low into the net.

But Rangers weren’t for giving up, and after Ridvan Yilmaz fired over and Schmeichel pulled off a brilliant fingertip save, they were back level as Diomande’s shot took a deflection past the Hoops keeper.

Nicolas Kuhn thought he had won it for Celtic when he swept home Arne Engles’ ball in the 87th minute, only for Danilo to come off the bench to level the match again just 21 seconds later and take it to extra time.

Celtic edged extra time – Rangers looked out on their feet – but the goals dried up before the penalty drama.

Schmeichel was beaten by Tavernier, Hagi and Danilo before he blocked Yilmaz’s penalty, with Gers keeper Butland also scoring.

However Celtic did not fail from the spot, with Adam Idah, skipper Callum McGregor, Engels and Hatate netting before Maeda clinched the victory.

A tenth trophy for Rodgers at Celtic

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers:

“Ultimately, it’s about coming out on top and we were able to do that.

“I thought we obviously made mistakes and then I thought the Rangers punished it really well. And like you say, we had to sort of settle it a wee bit at half-time and just come out.

“Obviously, we’re better second half.

“I think I know the magnitude of this game. Celtic and Rangers worldwide, for both sets of supporters, and it means so much to people’s lives.

“So I come into every game, I think it’s maybe, what, my 20th game?

“But I always treat it like the first and prepare that way.

“But as I said, it’s all about coming out on the other side. And the guys showed a big heart to come back from being behind in the game and then to obviously show that composure in the penalties.

“And the most important thing has been at the podium at the end and they achieved that.”

Clement: We should have had a penalty

Rangers boss Philippe Clement:

“I don’t know if you saw the images back, but my phone is overloaded with the penalty situation with Cerny. I get hundreds of messages now about that. That’s also a really decisive moment in the game.

“Of course, he (the referee) cannot see that moment. But he didn’t get the communication from the VAR to come to watch the screen, which for me is a really weird situation. At least there’s no look about that kind of situation in this kind of game, about the situation that the referee can make a decision in that way.

“I didn’t see it at the time because I still have quite good eyes, but I cannot see that much distance if the foot is outside or inside or on the line.

“So no, but my phone is full of messages from everybody. I don’t know. So those are things I cannot control.”

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