Sabah Kerjota delivered a dramatic stoppage‑time strike that secured a 2‑1 victory for Hearts over Dundee at Tynecastle, marking the club’s fourth consecutive win in the Scottish Premiership. The match unfolded with early tension, a mid‑game comeback, and a climactic finish that saw the visitors reduced to ten men and the home side capitalise on the numerical advantage. The opening stages were dominated by Dundee, who took the initiative and broke the deadlock in the 17th minute. Bradley Fink, exploiting a well‑timed run behind Hearts defender Oisin McEntee, latched onto a lofted pass from Imari Samuels and slotted the ball past a startled Beau Reus from twelve yards out.
The Swiss forward’s finish gave the visitors an early lead and forced Hearts into a period of frustration as they struggled to find rhythm against a disciplined Dundee defence. Hearts’ early attempts were thwarted, most notably when Calvin Miller’s effort was deflected in the third minute, and a promising corner for Dundee turned into a setback when Joe Westley was forced off on a stretcher after a collision with Jamie McCart.
Bobby Wales was introduced as Westley’s replacement, but the disruption did little to halt Dundee’s momentum. The home side’s frustrations were compounded when Dundee’s Fin Robertson also required stretcher assistance in the 76th minute, leaving the visitors with a depleted back line.
Despite these injuries, Dundee continued to press, with Ethan Hamilton capitalising on a mistake by Hearts’ goalkeeper Tomas Magnusson, only to see his low drive drift wide of the left‑hand post. As the first half drew to a close, Hearts remained level‑less, but the second half brought a shift in dynamics.
Early on, Josh McPake received a pass from Magnusson and surged into the box, only to be denied by defender Owen Goodman. Meanwhile, Dundee’s substitute Jack Moorhouse produced a near‑miss, his shot skimming the cross‑bar after dispossessing Jordi Altena. Pressure began to mount on Dundee as Hearts intensified their attacks. James Wilson, Claudio Braga, substitute JJ Williams and McPake each created chances, probing the tired Dundee defence.
The turning point arrived in the 84th minute when a VAR review awarded Hearts a penalty. Owen Bevan was judged to have impeded Christian Borchgrevink with his arm, and Braga stepped up to convert, sending Goodman the wrong way and restoring parity at 1‑1. The drama escalated in the final minutes.
In the 90th minute, Dundee’s Zan Besir received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Magnusson, reducing the visitors to ten men as the game entered stoppage time. Seizing the advantage, Hearts introduced Albanian substitute Sabah Kerjota, who had yet to find the net since joining the club last summer. Within six minutes of added time, Kerjota seized his moment, receiving a short corner that was quickly worked to him just inside the box.
He fired a low‑angled finish that slipped past the outstretched Reus, clinching a last‑minute winner and sending the Tynecastle crowd into rapturous celebration. The victory lifted Hearts to second place in the league table, extending their unbeaten run to eight matches across all competitions. Manager Wouter Vrancken praised his side’s resilience, noting that after a challenging derby loss to Hibernian earlier in the week, the team showed character by staying focused and pushing for the win despite the adversity of injuries and a man disadvantage for Dundee.
He highlighted the players’ composure and quality, essential traits for a club aspiring to compete for the top spots. Dundee manager Steven Pressley reflected on the arduous afternoon, acknowledging the numerous forced changes – including the introduction of Imari Samuels, Drey Wright, Robertson and Fink – and the difficulty of managing a side coping with injuries and a red card. Despite the loss, Pressley commended his squad’s attitude, will and determination, emphasizing that while they lacked control of possession, their fighting spirit was commendable.
Key moments of the match included: - Dundee’s early lead through Bradley Fink’s 17th‑minute finish. - Two Dundee players (Westley and Robertson) requiring stretcher assistance, disrupting their game plan.
- Hearts’ equaliser from a Claudio Braga penalty after a VAR intervention. - Zan Besir’s dismissal in stoppage time, leaving Dundee with ten men.
- Sabah Kerjota’s decisive sixth‑minute added‑time goal, his first for Hearts. The match also saw tactical adjustments, with Hearts replacing injured Blair Spittal with Tomas Magnusson for the game, while Dundee made four changes from their previous fixture, integrating Samuels, Wright, Robertson and Fink into the starting eleven.
Overall, the encounter was a testament to the unpredictability of football: early dominance, mid‑game setbacks, and a thrilling conclusion that underscored the importance of depth, resilience, and seizing opportunities when they arise. Hearts’ ability to overturn the deficit and secure a win in the dying moments will be remembered as a defining moment in their season, while Dundee will look to regroup and address the challenges highlighted by their performance. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m! Enter for free.