Late Daizen Maeda goal gives Celtic hope against Bayern Munich
Daizen Maeda's 79th minute goal keeps Celtic's hopes alive in their Champions League knockout phase tie with Bayern Munich. Pic: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.
DAIZEN Maeda only learned on Monday he would be available to face Bayern Munich when Celtic learned their appeal to reduce the winger’s two-match ban had been successful. Reprieved, Maeda conjured the late reply that ensured Brendan Rodgers’ side managed to keep this Champions League play-off tie alive ahead of next week’s second leg.
The Bundesliga leaders appeared in complete control when Michael Olise and Harry Kane capped the visitors’ dominant display with goals either side of the half-time break. But having been forced to defend in numbers for much of the game, Celtic rallied late on, forcing a reply when Maeda finished from close range in the 79th minute.
The scale of the task confronting them in Munich next week is clearly daunting but they will draw hope from the final stages of this first leg when Bayern looked considerably less comfortable than they had done.
It was clearly a significant achievement for Rodgers’ side to progress and set up a knockout tie in the competition for the first time since 2013. The manager, though, had made it clear in the build up to this game that he wanted his side to demonstrate they could cause problems for the visitors.
And, for a brief moment, it appeared as though Celtic had done just that inside the opening 25 seconds of the game. Nicolas Kuhn moved inside from the right before drilling a low shot that flew past Manuel Neuer. The assistant referee’s flag, however, ended the early celebrations with Adam Idah having drifted into an offside position in the keeper’s sightline.
The effort, though, only added to the home side’s belief that has steadily grown during an impressive run of home performances during the group stage. Slovan Bratislava, RB Leipzig and Young Boys all left empty-handed while the meeting with Club Brugge ended in stalemate. This, though, was a very different proposition.
While the two teams may have been separated by just three points after the eight-game group stage, there was no way to disguise the gap between Rodgers’s side and a Bayern team, currently eight points clear in the Bundesliga.
Having been given an early warning, Vincent Kompany’s side steadied themselves and took control of the game. Bayern totally dominated the midfield, providing a platform for Harry Kane, Olise, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sane to attempt to unpick the Celtic defence. It was to the Scottish champions’ credit that they defended impressively, remaining disciplined and compact as they kept the Germans at bay until the final seconds of the first half.
Keeper Kasper Schmeichel soon showed he would present a formidable barrier as the last line of the Celtic defence, saving well at his near post from Olise after turning inside Auston Trusty. He was again alert to keep out an effort from Leroy Sane but Celtic were unable to find a way to ease the pressure on the Denmark international’s goal.
The home side’s midfield and attack was unable to gain a foothold in the game and the sense that an opening Bayern goal was coming only grew. Kane should have done better when he found himself in space at the far post and headed into the side netting. But Celtic’s resistance was broken in the 45th minute when Olise beat Schmeichel with a thunderous shot after cutting inside left back Greg Taylor.
Having conceded immediately before the break, it was important Celtic made a positive start to the second half. It took Bayern less than four minutes though to double their lead as Rodgers’ side paid the price for failing to heed the warning at the end of the first period and again allowed Kane too much space at the far post where he met Joshua Kimmich’s corner with a powerful volley.
Celtic responded positively and thought they they had been given a route back into the game when Arne Engels went down under a challenge from Dayot Upamecano but the referee stuck by his original decision after a reviewing the incident.
Rodgers’ side continued to press and they were finally rewarded when Maeda struck.
Schmeichel 7; Johnston 6, Carter-Vickers 7, Trusty 6, Taylor 6 (Schlupp 65, 6); McGregor 6, Hatate 6, Engels 6; Maeda 7, Idah 5 (Jota 65, 6), Kuhn 7 (Yang 77, 6).
Neuer 6; Laimer 6, Upamencano 7, Dier 6, Guerreiro 6 (Ito 78, 6); Kimmich 8, Goretzka 6; Olise 9 (Gnabry 65,
Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain) 6
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