Celtic put on a dominant display at Celtic Park, dismantling Raith Rovers 5-0 to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup. With a huge Champions League knockout clash against Bayern Munich looming on Wednesday, Brendan Rodgers’ side showed no signs of distraction as they swept aside their Championship opponents in ruthless fashion.
Maeda’s Quickfire Start
It took just six minutes for Celtic to break the deadlock, and it was no surprise to see Daizen Maeda at the heart of it. The Japanese forward, in electric form this season, latched onto a Paulo Bernardo pass before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot. It was the perfect start for the Hoops, setting the tone for what was to come.
Doubling the Advantage Before Half-Time
Despite Raith Rovers showing moments of resistance, Celtic’s quality shone through. Just before the break, Yang Hyun-Jun picked out Maeda in the middle of the box, and he made no mistake, smashing the ball into the back of the net. The Hoops went into the interval with a commanding 2-0 lead, leaving Raith with an uphill battle.
McCowan Adds a Third
Celtic wasted no time in the second half, and within two minutes of the restart, Luke McCowan got in on the act. Yang was involved again, cutting the ball back for the midfielder, who showed great composure to guide it into the bottom corner. At 3-0, there was no way back for Raith, and the floodgates were well and truly open.
Yang and Maeda Seal the Rout
The fourth goal arrived in the 56th minute, with Yang getting his reward for a fine performance. Anthony Ralston delivered a pinpoint cross, and Yang struck it first time, finding the bottom corner with precision. Celtic weren’t done yet, though, and Maeda completed his hat-trick in the 77th minute, bundling home from close range after a brilliant Luke McCowan delivery.
Make it a hat-trick! 🎩
Daizen Maeda with a spectacular performance to hit the 50-goal milestone for Celtic 🍀#ScottishCup | @ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/4uWSLYmTGG
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) February 8, 2025
Attention Turns to Bayern Munich
With the job done in the Scottish Cup, all focus now shifts to the massive Champions League knockout playoff first leg against Bayern Munich at Celtic Park. Rodgers will be delighted with the performance, but he’ll also be hoping his side can produce another memorable European night under the lights midweek. For now, though, Celtic fans can enjoy another superb cup win as their team marches on in pursuit of silverware.
