Sabah Kerjota delivered a dramatic stoppage‑time strike to secure a 2‑1 comeback victory for Hearts over Dundee at Tynecastle, marking the club’s fourth consecutive win in the 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 a startled Oisin McEntee and firing past a vulnerable Beau Reus from twelve yards out.
The visitors, who had already seen both Joe Westley and Fin Robertson stretchered off due to injuries, seemed poised to dominate the early exchanges. Hearts, however, struggled to find rhythm in the opening stages. A promising early chance for Calvin Miller was deflected harmlessly behind the goal line in the third minute, and a subsequent corner saw Westley suffer a collision with Jamie McCart, forcing him onto a stretcher and prompting Bobby Wales to come on as his replacement.
Despite the setback, the home side continued to press, but Dundee’s defense held firm, and the first half ended with the visitors holding a slender advantage. The second half saw Hearts increase the tempo, with James Wilson, Claudio Braga, substitute JJ Williams and Josh McPake all making incisive runs into the box.
Dundee’s own chances dwindled after a promising effort by Ethan Hamilton, who capitalised on a mistake by Hearts’ goalkeeper Tomas Magnusson but saw his low drive drift wide of the left post. The momentum began to shift when Dundee’s Fin Robertson was forced off on a stretcher in the 76th minute, leaving the Scottish side with a depleted bench.
A pivotal moment arrived in the 84th minute when a VAR review awarded Hearts a penalty after Owen Bevan was judged to have used his arm to block a cut‑back from Christian Borchgrevink. Claudio Braga stepped up and, after a brief hesitation that sent goalkeeper Goodmann the wrong way, calmly slotted the ball into the net to level the scores at 1‑1.
The equaliser reignited the home crowd and set the stage for a frantic finale. As the clock ticked into added time, Dundee’s frustrations boiled over.
Substitute Zan Besir, who had been introduced earlier, received a straight red card in the 90th minute for a reckless challenge on Magnusson, reducing the visitors to ten men. Seizing the numerical advantage, Hearts turned to their Albanian forward Sabah Kerjota, who had yet to find the net since joining Tynecastle last summer.
In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Kerjota received a short corner, turned sharply, and unleashed a low‑angled finish that slipped past the outstretched Reus, clinching a 2‑1 win for the Jambos. 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 derby triumph over Hibernian the previous week, the team could have been distracted by the loss.
Instead, they maintained focus, fought back against a low‑block defence, and showed the mental strength required to challenge for the league’s top spots. He highlighted the players’ composure under pressure and their ability to turn adverse situations into positive outcomes.
Dundee manager Steven Pressley reflected on the challenges his squad faced, acknowledging the forced changes and injuries that disrupted their game plan. He commended his players’ attitude and determination, emphasizing that while they may not have controlled possession, their will to compete was evident throughout the match. Both managers underscored the intensity of the contest and the importance of perseverance in a tightly contested league. In summary, the match was a roller‑coaster of emotions: an early lead for Dundee, two serious injuries, a late penalty equaliser, a red card, and finally a last‑minute winner from Kerjota.
The result not only secured three points for Hearts but also reinforced their status as serious contenders for the Premiership title, while Dundee were left to regroup after a hard‑fought but ultimately disappointing performance.