Ross Graham’s last-gasp spot-kick denied Kilmarnock their first win of the William Hill Premiership season as Dundee United salvaged a 3-3 draw in a remarkable game at Rugby Park.
United had led at half-time through Louis Moult’s second goal in as many games but David Watson’s spectacular volley and steered finish put the hosts 2-1 ahead.
Marley Watkins bundled home a third just after the hour mark and Killie appeared to be coasting to three points until VAR intervened, recommending referee Craig Napier reverse his decision to disallow Craig Sibbald’s long-range goal for a foul.
And Napier was at the centre of the action again deep into added time when he adjudged Luca Stephenson to have been fouled and United defender Graham duly sent Kieran O’Hara the wrong way from the penalty spot to secure the draw.
Killie remain 11th after the late disappointment, while United drop to sixth despite the equaliser.
Kilmarnock’s team showed two changes from the side who drew with St Mirren two weeks ago, with Lewis Mayo in for the suspended Joe Wright and Brad Lyons replacing Watson.
Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin also made two changes, with Samuel Dalby and Louis Moult coming in for Jart van der Sande and Kristijan Trapanovski.
Dundee United had the first chance of note in the 11th minute as Stephenson was played through on goal but he could not beat O’Hara who came out to block well as the angle closed.
Stephenson had better luck 10 minutes later, however, as the right-back latched onto a brilliant cross-field pass by Will Ferry before cutting the ball back for Moult to slot home from six yards out.
Killie’s best chance of the first half came in the 35th minute when Danny Armstrong met Matty Kennedy’s cross with a header that flew just over.
The hosts had been poor in the first half but they came flying out of the traps in the second half, levelling after just 90 seconds.
It was half-time substitute Watson who made the instant impact, getting on the end of a deep Armstrong cross and connecting with an acrobatic scissor kick that flew past Walton to level for the hosts.
The goal had sparked Kilmarnock into life and they soon took the lead just before the hour mark with Watson scoring his second within 15 minutes of being on the pitch.
This one was a simpler finish, with the midfielder diverting Kennedy’s low shot from the edge of the box beyond Walton to make it 2-1.
Rugby Park was buoyant and remarkably – given the first half performance – Killie found themselves two goals ahead as Watkins extended their advantage in the 64th minute.
Kennedy was involved again as his free-kick found Robbie Deas and, although his header hit the bar, Watkins was on hand to bundle the ball home.
United had looked shellshocked in the second half and rarely threatened before Sibbald got them back into the game in the 79th minute, firing home a low, swerving effort from just outside the box that home goalkeeper O’Hara should perhaps have done better with.
The goal was originally chalked off for a foul but referee Craig Napier reversed his decision after being instructed to go to the monitor by VAR Grant Irvine.
United pushed for an equaliser and O’Hara appeared to have redeemed himself with two strong stops from Emmanuel Adegboyega and Vicko Sevelj.
But the keeper was unable to be the hero when, deep into stoppage time, Napier pointed to the penalty spot for a foul on Stephenson, as Graham coolly slotted the ball low into the left-hand corner to secure the draw.