Mato inspires Hearts into Conference League with assist, shootout goal

Uganda Cranes forward Rogers Mato made a decisive contribution as Hearts qualified for the UEFA Conference League league phase after eliminating Rapid Vienna in a dramatic penalty shootout in Austria on Wednesday night.

Mato came off the bench at the end of normal time, assisted Calvin Miller’s extra-time goal and then converted his penalty in the shootout as Hearts won 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra time. The result left the tie level at 4-4 on aggregate.

Rapid had taken the lead through Ercan Kara in the 34th minute, leaving Hearts trailing 3-2 on aggregate following the 2-2 first-leg draw at Tynecastle.

Pierre Landry Kaboré restored parity for Hearts in the 79th minute, forcing extra time before Mato was introduced for captain Blair Spittal at the end of the 90 minutes.

The Uganda international did not take long to influence proceedings.

In the 100th minute, Hearts broke quickly and Mato delivered the cross from which Miller finished with his left foot to put the Scottish side 2-1 ahead on the night and 4-3 up on aggregate.

Hearts were playing with 10 men by that stage after Tómas Magnússon had been sent off for a second bookable offence in the 76th minute, making their effort to protect the advantage even more difficult.

Rapid eventually found a way back in the 119th minute when Nenad Cvetkovic scored from close range, making it 2-2 on the night and 4-4 on aggregate to send the tie to penalties.

Mato was again entrusted with responsibility in the shootout and made no mistake, converting right-footed into the bottom-left corner to put Hearts 3-2 ahead at that stage of the shootout.

Goalkeeper Beau Reus then played his part, saving penalties from Moulaye Haïdara and Marco Tilio as Hearts eventually prevailed 4-3 to seal their place in the Conference League league phase.

The result completes an important European breakthrough for Mato in his first season at Hearts, but his involvement goes beyond simply being part of a qualifying squad.

With the tie finely balanced and Hearts reduced to 10 men, the Ugandan was trusted for extra time, created the goal that temporarily put his side on course for qualification and then converted under pressure in the shootout.

Mato had also featured in the first leg in Edinburgh, coming on in the 73rd minute as Hearts drew 2-2 with Rapid.

The qualification means Mato will now have the opportunity to play in the league phase of a major UEFA club competition, providing another platform for the Uganda Cranes forward to test himself against European opposition during his first campaign in Scottish football.

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