Celtic forward Daizen Maeda was given the nod to start up front for Japan in their final World Cup qualifying group match against Saudi Arabia earlier today. With Japan already securing their place at the 2026 World Cup, this match was more about squad rotation and gametime than anything else.
Maeda’s Performance Up Front
Maeda played 73 minutes in the 0-0 stalemate, offering his usual relentless energy and pressing from the front. The Celtic striker managed three shots during his time on the pitch, with one of them forcing a save from the Saudi goalkeeper. While he was unable to find the back of the net, his work rate and movement were clear throughout.
Kyogo Takes His Place
With 17 minutes remaining, former Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi replaced Maeda as Japan looked to inject freshness into the attack. Celtic fans will be familiar with Kyogo’s proven goalscoring ability, but he too was unable to make the difference.
Hatate’s Late Cameo
Just a minute after Maeda’s substitution, Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate was introduced, playing the last 16 minutes as Japan searched for a winner. Hatate tried to influence the game with his sharp passing and forward runs, but Saudi Arabia remained resolute at the back.
Japan’s Reo Hatate receives instructions from coach Hajime Moriyasu before being substituted on REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
Looking Ahead for Maeda
While this match may not have had much significance for Japan in terms of qualification, it will have been a useful exercise for Maeda as he continues to get minutes ahead of Celtic’s return to domestic action against Hearts on Saturday at Celtic Park. With the business end of the season on the horizon for the Hoops, Brendan Rodgers will no doubt be hoping that Maeda returns to Glasgow fit and ready to make an immediate impact, as he has done so often this season.
