In a pulsating encounter at Tynecastle, Sabah Kerjota delivered a dramatic stoppage‑time strike that secured a 2‑1 comeback victory for Hearts over Dundee, marking the club's fourth consecutive win in the Scottish Premiership. The match unfolded with early tension as Dundee took the lead in the 17th minute when Bradley Fink capitalised on a long ball from Imari Samuels, slipping past the out‑of‑position Beau Reus to finish from close range. The visitors, who were already hampered by injuries – both Joe Westley and Fin Robertson would later be carried off on stretchers – seemed set to maintain control, while Hearts struggled to find rhythm during the first half. Hearts' early attempts were thwarted, most notably when Calvin Miller saw his effort deflected into the netting of his own side in the third minute.
A corner that followed saw Westley collide with Jamie McCart, resulting in Westley's painful exit on a stretcher and the introduction of Bobby Wales. Despite the setback, Dundee pressed forward, with Ethan Hamilton testing Reus from the edge of the box after an error by Hearts' goalkeeper Tomas Magnusson, though his low drive drifted wide of the left post.
The first half ended with Dundee holding a slender advantage, but the second half saw Hearts grow in confidence. Five minutes after the restart, Josh McPake surged into the penalty area on a pass from Magnusson, only to be denied by defender Owen Goodman. On the opposite flank, Dundee substitute Jack Moorhouse forced a cross‑bar rebound after dispossessing Jordi Altena, hinting at the fine margins that would later decide the game.
As the clock ticked beyond the 70th minute, Dundee suffered another blow when Robertson was stretchered off after a heavy knock, leaving the visitors with a depleted bench. Hearts, sensing an opening, intensified their attacks.
James Wilson, Claudio Braga, JJ Williams and McPake all made threatening forays, keeping Dundee on the back foot and forcing the home side into a defensive posture. The deadlock was finally broken in the 84th minute when a VAR review awarded Hearts a penalty.
Owen Bevan had been judged to have impeded Christian Borchgrevink with his arm during a cut‑back, and Braga stepped up to convert, sending goalkeeper Goodman the wrong way and restoring parity at 1‑1. The goal reignited the contest, and both teams pushed for a winner as the match entered its final minutes. In the 90th minute, Dundee's frustrations boiled over when substitute Zan Besir received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Magnusson. Reduced to ten men, Dundee's hopes of salvaging a point dwindled.
However, the drama was far from over. Six minutes into added time, Hearts' Albanian substitute Sabah Kerjota, who had yet to find the net since joining the club last summer, seized his moment.
A short corner was quickly worked to the edge of the box, and Kerjota unleashed a low‑angled finish that slipped past Reus, clinching a 2‑1 victory for the Jambos. The win propelled 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 recent derby loss, the team needed to shake off negative emotions and maintain focus. "We stayed in the game, kept pushing and earned the result we deserved," Vrancken said, highlighting the players' composure under pressure and their capacity to fight for top‑table positions.
Dundee manager Steven Pressley, who had made four changes to his lineup after a 1‑1 draw with St Johnstone, acknowledged the difficulty of the afternoon. He lauded his squad's attitude and determination despite the forced alterations and injuries, emphasizing their will to compete even when possession and control were lacking. "It was a challenging day, but the players showed incredible resolve," Pressley remarked. Both coaches underscored the importance of mental strength in a tightly contested league.
For Hearts, the victory not only added three points but also demonstrated the depth of their squad, with substitutes like Kerjota making decisive contributions. For Dundee, the narrow defeat highlighted the fine line between triumph and disappointment, especially when injuries and disciplinary issues intervene.
Overall, the match served as a vivid illustration of Scottish Premiership football's unpredictability: early goals, injury setbacks, VAR interventions, a red card, and a last‑minute winner. Fans left Tynecastle with a story that will be recounted for weeks, celebrating Kerjota's breakthrough strike and Hearts' continued ascent up the league ladder.
The drama of the game encapsulated the passion and intensity that define the sport in Scotland, offering a compelling narrative of perseverance, tactical adjustments, and the ever‑present possibility of a game‑changing moment in the dying seconds of play.