Hearts snatched a last gasp victory in a 3-2 thriller with Dundee United at Tannadice.
In the Jambos' first away day of the league season, Lawrence Shankland converted from the spot after 19 minutes following a foul on Stuart Findlay, but United hit back through an Ivan Dolcek brace before the stroke of half-time.
Harry Milne's sublime delivery from the corner resulted in a fantastic headed equaliser from Findlay in the second 45, with both sides seemingly heading for a share of the spoils in an end-to-end encounter on Tayside.
With less than a minute to go, Findlay popped up again with a stooped header to seal three points in a dramatic victory.
Derek McInnes made one change to the side that defeated Aberdeen 2-0 at Tynecastle on opening day of the season, with Alan Forrest slotting into the right sided wing-back position in place of the injured Christian Borchgrevink.
In an open start to proceedings, United threatened first via Vicko Sevelj, who tested Zander Clark with a dipping effort from just outside the box that forced the Hearts stopped into pushing it around the post.
It was end to end stuff at Tannadice, and Hearts almost drew blood after 15 minutes when Alan Forrest whipped an inviting ball across goal. Claudio Braga met it with a fine header, but Kucherenko made a good stop.
Hearts started to get on the front foot, and the opener arrived after 19 minutes. Iurie Iovu was all over Stuart Findlay in the Hearts box and hauled the defender to the ground, conceding a spot kick for his efforts.
Lawrence Shankland stepped forward and confidently drilled the ball into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0 to the Jambos.
Testament to the breathless nature of proceedings, United got themselves on level terms just minutes later when Ivan Dolcek curled a fine free-kick into the top corner from outside the box, Zander Clark getting a hand to it, but not enough to claw it out.
After some more aggressive jousting, United claimed the lead after 43 minutes. A well taken move from the Arabs saw Ivan Dolcek threaded into the Hearts box with lightning intensity.
The forward's low drive was initially palmed by Clark, but unfortunately trickled through the goalkeeper's hands to make it 2-1 for Dundee United on the stroke of half-time.
HT: Dundee United 2-1 Heart of Midlothian
Coming out the traps, Hearts grabbed a deserved equaliser after 58 minutes through Stuart Findlay.
Good pressing from the Jambos saw a corner won, with Harry Milne swinging a delightful delivery into the area. Leaping like a salmon, Findlay connected with a powerful header that sailed over the head of Kucherenko in the United goal to make it 2-2.
Despite significant efforts in both halves, the game settled into a stalemate after the equaliser, with neither side able to break through their respective rearguards as the game trundled towards a draw.
With the game into stoppage time, Hearts had two huge chances go astray. Sabah Kerjota was desperately unlucky to see his deflected volley tipped around the post by Kucherenko.
The men in maroon went again from the following corner and saw a Findlay header cleared off the line by Craig Sibbald as United ran down the clock.
It was real last chance saloon stuff at Tannadice as the clock entered the final minute of play, but Stuart Findlay stooped to meet Kyziridis' corner and send a low header crashing into the net to secure a massive three points for Heart of Midlothian.
Dundee United: Kucherenko, Esselink, Lovu, Sevelij, Camara (Fotheringham 66'), Sapsford (Fatah 66'), Sibbald, Dolcek, Keresztes, Thomson, Stirton
Subs: Richards, Adams, Fatah, Fotheringham, O’Donnell, Cleall-Harding, Constable, Beattie, Welsh
Hearts: Clark, Kent (Steinwender 45'), Halkett, Shankland, Braga (Wilson 84'), Devlin, Spittal (Kerjota 63'), Forrest (Kyziridis 45'), Milne (Kingsley 77'), Findlay, McEntee
Subs: Fulton, Kingsley, Kabangu, Kabore, Steinwender, Wilson, Magnusson, Kerjota, Kyziridis
Attendance: 10,874
