IT'S THE SCUFF OF LEGENDS

Maeda rubs salt into Gers wounds by admitting his winner wasn't his best hit

- MICHAEL GANNON

DAIZEN MAEDA plunged the dagger into Rangers hearts yet again and the Celtic spot-kick star twisted the knife even further this time.

The Hoops running machine admitted he SCLAFFED his penalty decider to claim the Premier Sports Cup at Hampden.

It might have looked like a bulleted effort from the stands on and the TV but Maeda revealed he didn't quite catch his crucial spot-kick to pile even more agony on rivals Rangers.

If that was possible.

There would have been a few Hoops fans slightly worried at the sight of the wide man stepping up to hit the fifth penalty with a chance to seal it after Kasper Schmeichel had saved from Ridvan Yilmaz.

Maeda is loved by the Parkhead faithful and inflicted more damage when he fired Celts 2-1 ahead on a wild afternoon at the National Stadium.

But, if folks are honest, composure from the spot is not exactly what he's renowned for.

Yet the man himself insisted he wasn't jittery even when he duffed his drive.

Maeda said: "I wasn't nervous at all. But because I was tired, and it was also a mis-kick, so it was a great goal.

"Was I worried? Not really, because of that the ball went the opposite side of the keeper. So, it was a very good moment." Talk about understatement of the year. Maeda sent the Celtic end into ecstasy - and left the Rangers fans crushed.

And that was what mattered more to the attacker than the personal glory.