Rogers Mato: Uganda Cranes Forward Comes Off the Bench to Guide Scottish Club to UEFA Conference League

Uganda Cranes star Rogers Mato will play European football this season after making an impact as his side Hearts secured a UEFA Conference League group stage ticket.

Mato played a key part in what was a tight game against Austrian side Rapid Vienna that was decided on post-match penalties. Playing the final round of the Conference League group stage qualifiers in Austria on Wednesday, both sides headed into the second leg tied 2-2.

They would play out a 1-1 draw in regulation time when Pierre Kabore of Hearts cancelled out Ercan Kara’s 34th minute goal for the home side, necessitating extra-time.

This is when Mato was introduced and he had an immediate impact as he set up Calvin Miller to score for 2-1 in favour of Hearts after 100 minutes but the Scottish side could not hold on as they conceded a second goal 19 minutes later.

That led to another 2-2 draw and 4-4 on aggregate and with nothing to separate the two sides after extra-time, penalties were needed to settle the tie.

Hearts won 4-3 in the shoot-outs, having converted their first four penalties, with Mato holding his nerve to score the third as his side sealed a place in the Conference League.

It was the second straight game in which Mato was coming off the bench, having been handed 18 minutes in the first leg.

The Ugandan striker will be hoping for more minutes not just in the competition but in the Scottish Premiership as well as he looks to position himself for a place in coach Paul Put’s squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.