Category Sports News

Hearts have confirmed Uganda forward Rogers Mato will join the club immediately after they agreed a loan until the end of the season with North Macedonian side Vardar.

Mato, 22, had previously agreed a three-year contract to join as a free agent in July, and that deal will kick in once his Vardar deal expires.

The transfer is subject to international clearance and Scottish FA approval, but Mato could make his debut at Dundee United on Saturday.

His arrival strengthens Hearts’ options in forward areas with Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland out until March with a hamstring strain.

“It’s great work from the club to get Rogers in during this window and I’m really pleased that he’s here and ready to go,” head coach Derek McInnes said.

“He’s a livewire player, always looking to attack and cause the opposing defence problems.

There was confusion earlier this month when Vardar claimed they had accepted an £870,000 offer from Sporting Kansas City for Mato, after Hearts had announced their own pre-contract deal.

North Macedonian top-flight leaders Vardar proclaimed that he would instead “play against Messi, Suarez, Giroud, Lloris, Busquets” in Major League Soccer.

But, in a statement to the Kansas City Star outlet, the MLS outfit stated: “Sporting Kansas City explored a transfer for Rogers Mato, but he has elected to sign a pre-contract with Hearts and we wish him all the best in the future.”

Mato, who played for his country at the Africa Cup of Nations, has been in prolific form for Vardar this season, scoring 15 goals and contributing two assists in 17 appearances, and they currently lead second-top Struga by one point after 16 games.

First capped by his country in 2022, Mato has scored eight international goals in 41 matches, including a consolation goal in an Africa Cup of Nations defeat by Nigeria last month.

Para-powerlifter Finlay Davidson says he will be inspired by lifting in front of a home crowd for the first time when he competes for the opening medal of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The 21-year-old will line up in the men’s Lightweight Under 72kg category this summer – which will be the first time a Commonwealth Games has opened with a Para-sport event.

Davidson was inspired to take Para-powerlifting seriously by watching the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and is now hoping to threaten a medal in July.

He has lifted at two World Championships but has never featured in a competition on Scottish soil.

Davidson, from Inverkeithing in Fife, is mentored by renowned Para-powerlifting coach Neil Crosbie, who guided double amputee Micky Yule to Commonwealth silver in 2022.

He is ranked seventh in the Commonwealth and while he is realistic about his prospects for gold and silver – with England’s Mark Swan and Malaysia’s Bonnie Bunyau Gustin the standout competitors – he is not daunted by his task.

“Those two are out on their own, they are so strong. But I think I can realistically challenge for fourth at least,” he told BBC Sport Scotland.

“Between now and then, I’m just focused on getting stronger to close the gap with the lifters ranked above me.

“I learnt so much from competing in the World Championships. The first was the junior version – but a lot of the lessons were to do with travel. This time I will be at home, in front of a Scottish crowd for the first time.

“That’s going to be emotional. It’s been my dream to compete in the Commonwealth Games since taking up the sport. I never thought I’d get the chance to do it at home.

The 2026 Games will feature the largest Para-sport programme in the event’s history and Para-powerlifting will open the programme on 24 July in the SEC Armadillo.

Davidson is pleased and encouraged at the dynamics of the scheduling.

“Putting para and non-Para athletes side by side is so important – in sport and outside of it,” he added.

“Usually we aren’t competing in the same venue and at the same time at the Olympics and Paralympics, so it is so good that it is happening at the Commonwealth Games. It sends the right message.”

Davidson’s selection was unveiled at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, as part of All In – Glasgow 2026’s nationwide campaign calling on the nation to join the Commonwealth Games celebration.

All In aims to spark community pride and build momentum through locally led events across Scotland.

“Glasgow 2026 is Scotland’s Games and we want the whole nation to get behind us,” said Davidson.

It is not every day that you see a goalkeeper score.

Occasionally, though, the keeper throws the rule book out of the window.

Take Anatoliy Trubin. He booked Benfica’s place in the Champions League play-offs with a stunning 98th-minute goal against the mighty Real Madrid on Wednesday.

With the scores level in the fifth minute of added time in the Premier League game against West Brom, Liverpool’s Alisson went up for a corner.

He met Trent Alexander-Arnold’s delivery with a header to snatch a vital victory in Liverpool’s Champions League qualification bid.

Peter Schmeichel became the first keeper in Premier League history to score a goal, netting for Aston Villa in a 3-2 defeat by Everton.

He came up for a corner in the closing minutes, the ball rebounded towards him, and he smashed it into the top corner.

Paul Robinson scored the second goal of his professional career in Tottenham’s 3-1 Premier League win against Watford.

He took a hopeful punt upfield from a free-kick well within Spurs’ half.

Oscarine Masuluke scored a memorable goal against Orlando Pirates in the South African Premier League.

With Baroka FC trailing 1-0, a corner was only partially punched clear and Masuluke – moving away from the goal – scored a brilliant bicycle kick from near the edge of the penalty area.

Stoke City’s Asmir Begovic earned a place in the Guinness World Records for the “longest goal” in football.

From a distance of 97.5 yards, his clearance deceived Southampton keeper Artur Boruc to put Stoke 1-0 up after 13 seconds of the Premier League match.

Begovic said: “It’s a cool feeling but it was a fortunate incident. I feel a bit bad for Boruc.

“It is a long ball that got caught in the wind and it took a wicked bounce. It’s not nice to be on the receiving end of those things as a goalkeeper.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Hans-Jorg Butt scored a penalty in a Bundesliga match against Schalke.

In May 1999, Jimmy Glass scored an injury-time goal that kept Carlisle United in the Football League.

Sent forward for a corner, the Carlisle goalkeeper scored with virtually the last kick of the game to snatch victory and send Scarborough down.

In 2004 Blackburn Rovers’ Brad Friedel became only the second keeper in Premier League history to get on the scoresheet.

The American equalised in the 90th minute at Charlton, but then conceded a dramatic winner moments later.

Paraguayan Jose Luis Chilavert scored 67 goals in his career, including 14 free-kicks.

He became the first keeper to score a hat-trick during Velez Sarsfield’s 6-1 win against Ferro Carril Oeste in Argentina’s Argentine Primera Division in 1999.

But Chilavert’s goal tally is well short of Brazilian Rogerio Ceni, who spent 22 years with Sao Paulo and scored 129 goals in his career.

Brighton are set to reject a £20m offer from Nottingham Forest for midfielder Yasin Ayari.

Relegation-threatened Forest want to strengthen their squad before the transfer window closes on Monday and have made a bid for the Sweden international, but sources have told BBC Sport the offer will be turned down.

Ayari signed for Brighton from AIK Stockholm in 2023 and has made 66 appearances for the Seagulls since his £3.5m arrival, scoring six goals.

Since arriving in England, the 22-year-old has also had loan spells at Blackburn and Coventry.

Forest have already added a striker to their ranks during the winter window with Italy international Lorenzo Lucca joining on loan from Napoli.

Hibernian manager David Gray has said he is planning for Kieron Bowie to be part of the squad for Sunday’s Scottish Premiership match at home to Rangers.

The 23-year-old Scotland striker has attracted attention in this transfer window, with Serie A club Hellas Verona having a bid turned down earlier this week.

Hibs signed winger Owen Elding from League of Ireland Premier Division side Sligo Rovers for an undisclosed fee on Thursday and Gray says the club will be prepared for any developments with Bowie.

“While the window is open anything can happen. I’d be naive to comment otherwise,” Gray said.

“Clearly, there’s been interest, there’s been speculation, it’s something that Kieron’s had to deal with all season, because of his level of performance.

“He’s been very consistent in the way he trains, the way he goes about his business. That’s certainly not changed within this window.

“As it stands right now, he’s firmly in my plans to be involved at the weekend. He’s trained this morning and until that changes for whatever reason, that’ll be my mindset.

“Whether Kieron was to leave, I fully expect the backing of the ownership because they always want to improve the club – that’s not going to change. Our mindset is always to try and improve the group.”

Elding, who was voted the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland young player of the year for 2025, has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal.

The 19-year-old scored 16 goals and provided five assists in 38 matches for Sligo Rovers last season.

Hibs say he opted for Easter Road ahead of “significant interest from several other European clubs”, with Austrian side Sturm Graz reported to be keen on Elding.

Gray says the young forward, who was Sligo’s 2025 Player of the Year, has huge potential.

“He has done incredibly well for such a young age – he has a range of attributes and a strong physical presence up front,” he said.

“He has played a lot of men’s football already, has scored a variety of goals and I think he has got a really bright future.

“Certainly there is no pressure in terms of hitting the ground running and expecting big things. He is a young boy coming in and it is his first introduction to Scottish football, but he is certainly an exciting prospect.”

Crystal Palace have agreed a deal in principle worth in the region of £50m to sign Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, as Nottingham Forest prepare an improved offer for Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Sources have told BBC Sport that Palace’s interest in the 25-year-old striker has intensified in the past 24 hours and a formal bid is now set to be submitted.

Palace broke their club record with a £35m move for Wales forward Brennan Johnson earlier this month but Strand Larsen’s arrival would surpass that deal.

Wolves are open to selling the Norway international this month provided they get a fee close to the £55m they rejected from Newcastle for the striker during the summer transfer window.

Leeds have already seen an offer of £40m rejected by Wolves, and as things stand the Elland Road club are reluctant to go much higher.

Juventus and AC Milan are among the clubs to have shown a concrete interest in the France international.

Mateta is understood to want to play Champions League football, but a move to Forest is understood to be a financially lucrative option for the 28-year-old and sources are indicating that Forest intend to accelerate their interest.

The two clubs face each other in the Premier League on Sunday and no agreement is expected before then.

Palace are also close to the loan signing of Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand.

The Eagles, who looked at signing the 24-year-old last summer, are set to take Guessand until the end of the season in a deal that will give them an option to buy.

Guessand has scored twice in 26 Villa appearances – both in the Europa League – having struggled to establish himself in his favoured central striker position.

The £18.25m arrival of Tammy Abraham from Besiktas this week also leaves him as likely third choice behind Abraham and Ollie Watkins.

And although the Ivory Coast international has been happy to fight for his place at Villa Park, he is expected to leave.