Ross Graham’s last-gasp spot-kick denied Kilmarnock their first win of the 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.
How Dundee United snatched a point
Dundee United’s Ross Graham celebrates as he scores from the penalty spot to make it 3-3
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.
What the managers said…
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: “In the second half we came out, and we looked like a really confident team, we had a bit of swagger about us for 35 minutes there.
“We’ve then just lost a long-range shot we should be saving and an 80-yard punt where we should just win the first header.
“It’s just an overeagerness to get over the line and get the job done, and everyone trying to play their part. We were guilty, at times, of overexuberance and we have to use our experience and calmness more in that sort of moment.
“There were more positives from the team’s performance today than not, but it counts for nothing if you can’t defend your box as we couldn’t in the dying embers of the game.”
Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin: “I’ve been involved in games like this as a player and a manager when I’ve seen it go 4-1 and 5-1 and that’s something the players can take credit for.
“It’s easy to throw the towel in but that’s not the culture in the group. We never give up.
“And we got our reward. I think before the game, a point down here is not a bad result because players don’t like the pitch and Kilmarnock are a decent team.
“We’ve shown great resilience in pretty much every league game we’ve played.
“It was important to stop the rot after two defeats but my emotions are very mixed because I’m disappointed about the goals we’ve conceded having been comfortable, but then I’m very proud of the efforts of the players to keep going and get something.”