Lethal Liel Abada smashed a dramatic last-gasp winner to move 10-man Celtic to within two points of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
The Israeli produced a composed finish in the dying seconds to blow away home frustration and rescue a win for his team.
Boss Ange Postecoglou watched in anguish as his team looked to be allowing a terrific opportunity to narrow the deficit at the summit slip away.
As time ticked away from the title chasers, Dundee United were poised to hold out and grab a vital point.
Celtic ’s woes continued when Nir Bitton was red carded in the closing stages to leave them a man light and put the stand-in skipper out of the Old Firm clash.
But, with the game ticking into the 90th minute, Abada struck a vital blow in the Premiership race.
Sub Jota hit the byeline and, when his floated cross was missed by United skipper Calum Butcher, the little attacker took a sublime first touch before rifling high into the net to spark an explosion of joy inside the stadium.
It was a monumental moment for Postecoglou’s troops. His team were initially unable to break through as United performed with courage and bravery.
The Taysiders needed one outrageous save by keeper Benji Siegrist from home striker Giorgos Giakoumakis and dodged some other scares to get to the closing stages before their nightmare ending.
Boss Tam Courts could still be proud of the efforts, but it was a magic finale for Postecoglou as his team now have the chance to go top of the table on Wednesday.
A day which ended in celebration opened with emotion when the manager and club captain Callum McGregor carried a wreath onto the middle of the pitch before kick-off as the stadium paid a fitting tribute to former boss Wim Jansen.
When it got going, Adrian Sporle fizzed a shot just wide of the target early as United passed it well in the opening stages.
But they needed Butcher’s brilliant last-ditch tackle to deny Giakoumakis a chance and a Siegrist one-on-one save from Abada to keep Celtic out in the opening half an hour.
The United No.1 was hurt denying the Greek for a second time and he also pushed away a Matt O’Riley strike before the new signing, making his home debut, somehow missed a glorious opportunity from a James Forrest centre as the first-half finished scoreless.
Postecoglou wanted more thrust as Jota was introduced for the restart along with Josip Juranovic and Portuguese immediately crossed for O’Riley to glance a header which brought another stop from Siegrist.
United maintained lots of composure on the ball as they moved it around trying to engineer their own opportunities.
But Siegrist had to produce a miraculous stop when he managed to get a leg to a Giakoumakis strike from point-blank range to divert it over the crossbar.
The Greek held his head in hands and collapsed to the turf in despair when he sliced another big chance wide soon afterwards.
Worse would follow for Celtic with Bitton’s red card. The Israeli had been booked beforehand for decking Tony Watt and caught United sub Declan Glass at the edge of the box after the visitors had nicked possession off Greg Taylor.
Referee Euan Anderson issued a second booking and Celtic’s hopes looked to be done until Jota set-up Abada for his magic moment and the dramatic finale.
Mixed bag for Celtic
It was a day which ended with contrasting fortunes for the countrymen of Celtic. Bitton was in the shower by the time Abada struck. The captain’s red card was a nightmare for the manager who is now without another midfielder for the Rangers game. But Abada ensured the damage was not doubled with his 12th goal of the season. He’s been some buy.
United front
Tam Courts’ team managed to put together some neat passing periods in the first-half with Ian Harkes and Dylan Levitt tidy on the ball. The Tannadice team had to defend and keeper Benji Siegrist was called upon to make big saves, none more so than from Giorgis Giakoumakis after half-time, as expected throughout a 90 minutes at Celtic Park. But the way they took the ball and demanded it under pressure was the sign of a good side. The late heartbreak was agony.
No Matt Finish
Celtic’s new playmaker O’Riley was given a debut on home soil and much rested on his shoulders with Tom Rogic away on international duty. The Englishman was involved in good passages of play, but he missed a golden chance before half-time when put on a plate by Forrest and was also denied with a second-half header.
