Daezen Maeda leaves it late as Celtic end Motherwell’s 14-match unbeaten run

Daizen Maeda headed a stoppage-time winner as Celtic came from behind to inflict a first defeat on Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou.

Motherwell led through an Apostolos Stamatelopoulos double but Benjamin Nygren was gifted an equaliser before Maeda’s diving header sealed a 3-2 victory for the hosts.

The comeback prevented the champions going into the international break five points behind William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts.

Kelechi Iheanacho had opened the scoring from the spot in the 28th minute but Stamatelopoulos turned the game on its head either side of the break.

The Australian scored with a diving header and a VAR-assisted penalty to put Motherwell on course for a first win at Celtic Park in 10 years.

However, Motherwell’s commitment to playing out from the back – such a positive aspect of their early-season form – led to the equaliser as goalkeeper Calum Ward passed the ball straight to Nygren eight yards from goal.

Substitute Michel-Ange Balikwisha then delivered his first big moment as a Celtic player three minutes into time added on as he sent over a low cross which Maeda converted.

The goal ended a 14-match unbeaten run for Motherwell, their longest as a top-flight team since they won the 1952 Scottish Cup final.

Askou was open in the build-up about his intentions to go for victory rather than trying to frustrate and his team got men forward early on.

They soon nearly paid the price for losing possession deep in their own half though as Ward saved well from Callum McGregor before holding Maeda’s weak effort. The hosts got another chance from a turnover as Marcelo Saracchi shot wide.

The breakthrough came when Regan Charles-Cooke was penalised for handball as he jumped to block McGregor’s strike. Iheanacho sent Ward the wrong way.

Motherwell were struggling to get the ball forward but they nearly benefited from Saracchi’s slip as Kasper Schmeichel denied Tawanda Maswanhise.

The Steelmen kept the pressure on after Anthony Ralston lost possession and Stamatelopoulos got in between Celtic’s centre-backs to head inside the near post from Maswanhise’s cross five minutes before the break.

Maswanhise and Maeda got in behind at either end but could not convert before the break and it was Motherwell who got on top after the restart.

Maswanhise had his heel clipped by Saracchi as he got to Emmanuel Longelo’s cutback first and referee Calum Scott ultimately pointed to the spot after being summoned to the monitor.

Stamatelopoulos struck the 56th-minute penalty into the top corner to record his third goal in two matches.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers soon sent on Arne Engels, James Forrest and Nygren and the chances started flowing for the hosts.

Nygren sliced a volley wide from eight yards after Saracchi’s cross bounced off the bar, McGregor volleyed over and Ward parried the Swede’s shot wide.

The Motherwell goalkeeper undid his good work with a loose left-footed pass and Nygren could barely miss.

There were half-chances at either end before Celtic began to push back a Motherwell team who saw Johnny Koutroumbis, Stamatelopoulos, Ibrahim Said and Maswanhise suffer injuries in the second half.

And Maeda sent the home fans wild with a goal that moved Celtic nine points ahead of Rangers.