Sabah Kerjota delivered a dramatic stoppage‑time winner, sealing a 2‑1 comeback for Hearts against Dundee at Tynecastle and extending their run of Premiership triumphs to four straight matches. The early stages of the encounter saw the visitors dominate, with Dundee taking the initiative after a 17th‑minute strike from Bradley Fink.
The Swiss forward capitalised on a well‑timed run behind Hearts defender Oisin McEntee, latching onto a lofted pass from Imari Samuels and finishing neatly past Beau Reus from about 12 yards out. The goal was made all the more unsettling for the home side when two of their players, Joe Westley and Fin Robertson, were forced off on stretchers following separate injuries, leaving Hearts scrambling for stability.
Hearts struggled to find rhythm in the first half, enduring long periods of frustration as Dundee pressed high and threatened repeatedly. Early on, Calvin Miller saw a shot rebound off the post, and a corner soon after saw Westley stretchered off after a collision with Jamie McCart, prompting Bobby Wales to come on as his replacement. Despite the disruption, Dundee continued to test the Hearts defence; Ethan Hamilton seized on a mistake by substitute goalkeeper Tomas Magnusson, cutting inside and unleashing a low drive from just outside the box, only to see it sail wide of the left‑hand post.
The second half began with Hearts attempting to regain footing. Five minutes after the restart, Josh McPake surged forward on a pass from Magnusson and entered the penalty area, but his effort was blocked by Owen Goodman.
On the opposite flank, Dundee substitute Jack Moorhouse forced a cross‑bar rebound after dispossessing Jordi Altena, underscoring the tight nature of the contest. As the clock ticked towards the final ten minutes, Hearts began to apply sustained pressure. James Wilson, Claudio Braga, substitute JJ Williams and McPake all made threatening forays into the Dundee box, creating a flurry of chances that kept the visitors on the back foot.
Meanwhile, Dundee suffered a further blow when Robertson, who had already been a concern, was stretchered off in the 76th minute, leaving the team with a reduced bench. The breakthrough for Hearts finally arrived in the 84th minute.
After a VAR review, a penalty was awarded when Owen Bevan was judged to have impeded Christian Borchgrevink with his arm. Braga stepped up confidently and slotted the spot‑kick past a bewildered Goodman, restoring parity and igniting a surge of excitement among the Tynecastle faithful. The drama intensified in the final minute of regulation. Dundee’s substitute Zan Besir was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Magnusson, reducing the visitors to ten men as the match entered added time.
Seizing the advantage, Hearts introduced Albanian forward 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 worked into the box and firing a low‑angled finish past the helpless Reus to clinch a 2‑1 victory. The win 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 difficult first half and a disciplined defensive setup from Dundee, his players never lost belief.
"If you win a derby and then lose the following weekend, the focus shifts to the negative and the emotion of the derby fades," Vrancken said. "I was delighted to see the team stay in the game, keep pushing, and ultimately earn the result we deserved. It shows the players have the composure, quality and determination needed to compete for the top spots." Dundee manager Steven Pressley reflected on the challenges his side faced, highlighting the forced changes he made after a 1‑1 draw with St Johnstone the previous day. He commended his players for their attitude and perseverance despite the adversity, stating, "It was a challenging afternoon, yet we nearly achieved a positive outcome.
Managing a game with so many enforced changes was difficult, but the players showed incredible determination. They may not have controlled possession, but their will to fight for a result was evident." Both coaches underscored the physical toll the match took, with multiple injuries and a red card shaping the narrative. The match also featured a tactical tweak for Hearts, with Blair Spittal, sidelined by injury for months, being replaced by Tomas Magnusson in the starting lineup.
In summary, the fixture delivered a classic Scottish Premiership showdown: early dominance by the visitors, a resilient comeback by the home side, and a last‑gasp winner that will be remembered by Hearts supporters for years to come. The result not only secured three points but also reinforced Hearts' ambition to challenge for the league title as the season progresses.