Sabah Kerjota delivered a dramatic stoppage‑time strike that secured a 2-1 comeback victory for Hearts over Dundee at Tynecastle, extending their run of four consecutive Premiership wins. The match unfolded with early frustration for the home side as Dundee, despite losing both Joe Westley and Fin Robertson to stretcher calls, took the lead in the 17th minute when Bradley Fink found the net.
Hearts struggled to find rhythm in the opening stages, but a late surge saw them equalise via a Claudio Braga penalty in the 84th minute. With the game slipping into added time, Dundee were reduced to ten men after Zan Besir received a red card, setting the stage for Kerjota’s decisive finish. The Albanian substitute, who joined Hearts last summer, capped his debut goal for the club in the sixth minute of stoppage time, sealing a vital three points.
The win lifted the Jambos, unbeaten in eight matches across all competitions, into second place in the league table. The side that had previously triumphed in the Edinburgh derby against Hibernian saw a forced alteration when Blair Spittal, sidelined by a long‑term injury, was replaced by Tomas Magnusson.
Dundee manager Steven Pressley also made four changes to his lineup after a 1-1 draw with St Johnstone, bringing in Imari Samuels, Drey Wright, Fin Robertson and Bradley Fink. Hearts started brightly, with Calvin Miller seeing his early effort deflected behind the goal in the third minute. A corner that followed forced Westley off the pitch on a stretcher after a collision with Jamie McCart, prompting Bobby Wales to come on as his replacement. Dundee’s breakthrough came quickly; Fink capitalised on a Samuels long ball, out‑pacing Oisin McEntee and lobbing the ball over the advancing Beau Reus from twelve yards out.
The Swiss forward’s finish left the home goalkeeper exposed and gave the visitors a 1-0 lead. Dundee threatened a second goal when Ethan Hamilton capitalised on a mistake by Magnusson, cutting inside and unleashing a low shot from just outside the box that missed the left post by inches. Hearts, unsettled by the early concession, struggled to regain control in the first half but created a chance five minutes after the break when Josh McPake drove into the box from a Magnusson pass, only to be denied by defender Owen Goodman. On the opposite flank, Dundee substitute Jack Moorhouse’s effort clipped the cross‑bar after dispossessing Jordi Altena.
As the second half progressed, Hearts intensified their pressure. James Wilson, Braga, substitute JJ Williams and McPake all made threatening runs, forcing Dundee’s defence into a series of hurried clearances. The visitors suffered another setback in the 76th minute when Robertson collapsed and required a stretcher, further depleting their options.
The turning point arrived in the 84th minute when VAR intervened after Owen Bevan was judged to have blocked a Christian Borchgrevink cut‑back with his arm. The ensuing penalty was calmly slotted by Braga, sending Goodman the wrong way and restoring parity at 1-1. With the scores level, the match entered its final minutes. In the 90th minute, Dundee’s Zan Besir was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Magnusson, reducing the side to nine men.
Seizing the numerical advantage, Hearts worked a short corner into the box where Kerjota found space and unleashed a low‑angled finish that beat Reus, clinching a 2-1 win in the sixth minute of added time. After the final whistle, Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken reflected on the performance: “Winning a derby and then dropping points the following weekend can shift the focus to the negatives and dampen the derby’s emotion.
After a setback against a team that sat deep, I was pleased to see our players stay in the game, keep pushing, and ultimately earn the result we deserved. It’s encouraging that the squad didn’t panic; they showed the resilience and quality needed to turn situations around, which is essential when you aim for the league’s top spots.” Dundee’s boss Steven Pressley praised his side’s attitude despite the challenges: “It was a tough afternoon, but we came close to a positive outcome. Managing a game with so many enforced changes was difficult, and there were numerous obstacles to navigate. Considering all the challenges the players faced on the pitch, their attitude and performance were remarkable.
It wasn’t about dominating possession; it was the will, desire, and determination to fight for a result that stood out.” The victory not only reinforced Hearts’ momentum in the Scottish Premiership but also highlighted the impact of tactical flexibility and squad depth. Kerjota’s late heroics underscored his growing importance to the team, while Dundee’s inability to cope with injuries and disciplinary setbacks proved costly. Both managers acknowledged the fine margins that decide matches at this level, emphasizing resilience, adaptability, and the relentless pursuit of points as key ingredients for success in a tightly contested league.
The match also featured a promotional element, inviting fans to participate in a Super 6 competition for a chance to win £1 million, underscoring the club’s efforts to engage supporters beyond the pitch.