A goal we'll be talking about for decades

[BBC]

Have you ever seen anything like it?

A goal befitting any occasion. But one that just happened to be the winner in arguably Celtic's biggest game of the season (or at least our biggest game so far).

And one that may turn out to be the scorer's last significant contribution to a Glasgow derby that he has now featured in 26 times over an incredible four-and-a-half-year spell in Glasgow.

Like everyone else I'm of course talking about Daizen Maeda's wonder goal from Sunday's 3-1 win over Rangers, a strike I've now watched literally dozens of times, and from every conceivable angle.

And while I don't think many of us thought we would be asking the question, 'Best since Larsson?' when it comes to Maeda, it is a debate that's now doing the rounds - at least in terms of whether or not his goal on Sunday is up there with the legendary striker's chip over Stefan Klos way back in August 2000.

And what perhaps makes it all the more spectacular is it came from a player who, for all his brilliance, has never really been defined by moments like this.

Maeda's game has always been about chaos, energy, intensity and relentless running. It's been about closing defenders down, making impossible recoveries and dragging Celtic forward through sheer force of will.

But this? This was a work of art. The touch to set it up, the awareness to shift the angle and then the finish itself - angled beyond Jack Butland and into the top corner in front of a full house at Celtic Park.

It was one of those moments where time seemed to stand still, before absolute bedlam erupted all around the stadium.

And the timing of it gave it even more significance. Celtic simply had to win.

When Martin O'Neill side have needed someone to step up in recent weeks, Maeda has been that man. Goals, assists, endless running and now that moment.

And perhaps that's why supporters have taken this one so personally. Because Maeda isn't just admired by the Celtic support - he's adored. A modern-day cult hero.

He represents everything fans want to see in a Celtic player. Total commitment. Total honesty. Total fight.

So while comparisons with Larsson will always feel almost impossible to fully entertain, what Maeda produced on Sunday was unquestionably one of the great modern derby goals.

A goal for the moment. A goal for the title race. And a goal we'll be talking about for decades to come.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange