Uganda Cranes forward Rogers Mato continues to shine on the European stage, netting his third goal in the Europa Conference League qualifiers as FK Vardar defeated Swiss side Lausanne 2-1 in the first leg of their second-round tie on Thursday.
The 21-year-old striker, who has become a familiar name in the qualifiers, opened the scoring in stoppage time of the first half, giving Vardar a crucial 1-0 lead heading into the break.
His strike was a timely boost for the North Macedonian club, with Mato once again proving his value on the European scene.
However, the lead was short-lived as Lausanne’s Mali international Gaossou Diakite leveled the score in the 58th minute, setting up a tense second half.
But Vardar regained the advantage in the 78th minute thanks to Azer Omeragikj’s clinical finish, which ultimately secured the 2-1 victory for the hosts.
Mato’s impact was undeniable, as he played the full 90 minutes and earned the highest player rating of the match (7.5), outshining all other players on the pitch.
His solid performance adds to his growing reputation in the qualifiers, and Vardar will be hoping for more of the same when they visit Lausanne for the second leg next week.
With three goals already to his name, Mato will be eager to extend his scoring run and help Vardar continue their pursuit of a spot in the 2025/26 Europa Conference League final tournament.
