Maeda stars as Celtic down Rangers to go within one point of leaders Hearts

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/hearts/0rGrwwNc/"]Hearts[/a]' lead is cut to one point with two games remaining, and they have to travel to Celtic Park on the final day of the campaign on Saturday.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maeda-daizen/6kfQTp18/"]Maeda[/a]'s return to form has spearheaded Celtic's late charge for a 14th title in 15 years. Six of the Japan international's 14 goals this season have come in the last four games.[/p][p][b]"Extraordinary performance from Daizen Maeda. His second goal was just unbelievable," [/b]said [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/celtic/QFKRRD8M/"]Celtic[/a] interim boss Martin O'Neill.[/p][p][b]"We're still in it, we're still fighting, and that's the most important thing to come out of today.[/b][/p][embed guid="31b1a7d3-e01b-45a9-b1d7-25a33888b9ec" url="https://x.com/GoalsXtra/status/2053449665274687789/video/1?s=46" social-type="twitter" /][p]Three consecutive defeats have knocked Rangers out of contention for the title and ensure Danny Rohl's men will finish third.[/p][p][b]"We had a great position before the split, and this is hard to take and we have to improve and develop quick," [/b]said Rohl.[/p][p][b]"I will take a lot from the last three games to be prepared the best way possible. I will lead this group, and I am clear about what we have to improve."[/b][/p][image alt="Key stats" id="53e1bb9d-b4a2-4adb-9dea-7b3184d4db69" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="b1161703-3180-4d04-abbb-57b5d8a9f1a2" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]The visitors got off to a perfect start when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tottenham/UDg08Ohm/"]Tottenham[/a] loanee [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/moore-mikey/zRAWGr3f/"]Mikey Moore[/a] took advantage of slack Celtic defending to tap in on nine minutes.[/p][p]Martin O'Neill's men responded quickly to level when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yang-hyun-jun/xGCPrFwO/"]Yang Hyun-jun[/a] fired home [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/engels-arne/K4dXXq9J/"]Arne Engels[/a]' low cross.[/p][p]Maeda then scored twice in three minutes just before the hour mark to secure Celtic's first league win over Rangers since September 2024.[/p][p]The forward turned in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tierney-kieran/Qm0l3aod/"]Kieran Tierney[/a]'s cross before a sensational looping overhead kick dropped into the far corner to spark manic scenes of celebration among the 60,000 crowd.[/p][image alt="As it stands at the top of the Premiership" id="fe17cfe5-8bc1-4e25-a8e9-483814855552" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="6876d384-7418-4015-b2cc-9cf46fcddc1a" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]Hearts have led for almost the entire season as they aim to become the first side outside the Old Firm to win the Scottish title for 41 years.[/p][p][b]The Jambos could still seal the title on Wednesday with victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/falkirk/nHDF1ZUj/"]Falkirk[/a] if Celtic lose at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/motherwell/YuW7ZfMM/"]Motherwell[/a].[/b][/p][p]Any other combination of results will mean the title is on the line when Hearts travel to the East End of Glasgow in six days' time.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/celtic-QFKRRD8M/rangers-8vAWQXNS/?mid=UqabOxJ5"]Click here to catch up on all the match stats![/a][/b][/p]