Scottish Premiership Wednesday, December 17, 2025 Tannadice Park, Dundee DUNDEE UTD…2 (Keresztes 58, Sapsford 61) CELTIC…1 (Maeda 13) Celtic were defeated 2-1 by Dundee United at Tannadice this evening, with the home side producing two second-half goals to give themselves three points after Celtic had taken the lead in the first 45 minutes. Celtic started quickly and created a big chance early on when Daizen Maeda rushed on to a ball on the left wing and sent it across the box for Yang, but, at full stretch, the winger was unable to direct the ball towards goal. Johnny Kenny was the next Celtic man to find himself with an opportunity when, just minutes later, after some brilliant link-up play between Paulo Bernardo and Reo Hatate in the middle of the pitch, the Sligo man received the ball and burst in to the box. However, a strong save from the home side’s keeper, David Richards prevented the goal. Wilfried Nancy’s men had the hosts on the back foot throughout the opening stages, and it felt like a matter of time before Celtic got the opening goal, which came with just over 10 minutes played. A well-weighted pass from Johnny Kenny set up Daizen Maeda and, after some quick footwork from the Japanese Celt, he blasted a shot across the goalkeeper and in to the far corner to give the Hoops a 1-0 lead. The Celts were in full control of proceedings throughout the first half, and seemed to be getting in behind the hosts’ defence at will. Their lead should have been doubled 20 minutes later when Maeda sent another dangerous ball across the box, this time for Johnny Kenny, whose effort from a few yards out drifted just wide of the post. Dundee United carved out a chance just before the break when their goalkeeper sent a long ball forward which was picked up by Max Watters. The home side’s forward was able to get a shot away on goal but was unable to generate any power behind it, and Kasper Schmeichel made the save with no fuss.Dundee United looked to respond to their 1-0 deficit at the start of the second half and within minutes of the restart, Craig Sibbald found himself with a shooting opportunity from the edge of the box, however his effort rose high over the bar. Kasper Schmeichel was then called in to action, making a good reaction save after a quick turn and shot from Sapsford as the home side continued to try and put pressure on the Celtic defence. Dundee United managed to find an equaliser just before the hour mark when a cross ball deep in to Celtic’s box wasn’t cleared, giving Vicko Ševelj the chance to set up Krisztian Keresztes, who sent the ball in to the far corner beyond Schmeichel. The home side then took the lead a few minutes later when Zachary Sapsford produced a brilliant finish from the edge of the box, curling the ball into the bottom corner to make it 2-1 to Jim Goodwin’s men. Wilfried Nancy made a triple change after the home side took the lead, bringing Shin Yamada, Arne Engels and James Forrest on for Johnny Kenny, Paulo Bernardo and Reo Hatate. Yamada found himself with a good chance not long after his introduction to the match when Luke McCowan picked him out with a nice ball, but his volleyed effort didn’t trouble the home side’s keeper. The Japanese striker then found himself with another opportunity from the edge of the box. This time he opted to go with the outside of the foot and was unlucky to see his effort drift wide of the target. Maeda came close to pulling Celtic level late in the match when he got his head to a cross from James Forrest. His headed effort ricocheted off the post and then off the back of a Dundee United defender, but somehow did not end up in the back of the net, to the shock of everyone inside Tannadice, and the Celts ran out of time.FixturesDundee United Vs. Celtic – Wed, Dec 17th 2025, 20:00
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