Hearts battled back to earn a point in a Christmas Eve cracker at Tannadice as Craig Gordon was stretchered off.
The Scotland goalkeeper received medical attention after a horror clash with Steven Fletcher before being carried off in a feisty encounter. Goals from Fletcher and Dylan Levitt looked to have condemned Hearts to a defeat before Lawrence Shankland equalised from the spot deep into added time.
Shankland won the penalty when he was brought down in the box before slotting it home as he salvaged a point in a dramatic encounter which also saw Hearts denied a penalty by VAR. That crazy U-Turn in the first half saw a penalty awarded after Michael Smith had levelled to cancel out Fletcher's opener.
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Robbie Neilson's side were then sunk by Levitt's cool finish just after the break as they battled for an equaliser.
Despite trying to force the issue the Tynecastle side struggled to find their moment as they crashed to a defeat which leaves them fourth in the table.
VAR humbug
Hearts will feel aggrieved after the bizarre penalty turn around which would have given them a chance to complete a stunning first half comeback.
A crazy VAR U-Turn saw the Jambos denied a penalty when United stopper Djoum appeared to handle the ball when trying to block Cammy Devlin's effort in the box.
After a lengthy delay Colin Steven went over to the screen and on a second check the penalty decision was changed to the fury of the Hearts bench.
It is one of those decisions that split opinion but to have the penalty awarded first for it to be taken away sparked fury on the Hearts bench.
Robbie Neilson was left further stunned when Dundee United were awarded a penalty after the horror clash between Fletcher and Gordon. In that occasion VAR came to the rescue.
Shankland to the rescue
Hearts had to show fight and spirit to rescue a point in the city of discovery.
Lawrence Shankland stepped up when it mattered to slot home as time was running out.
The Hearts striker netted his 15th of the season and after enduring a full second half a goal down it was celebrated like a winner.
Concerns for Craig
There is no doubt the sight of Craig Gordon being stretchered off will be a worry for fans.
The Scotland goalkeeper looked in a bad way as he was carried off after a horror clash with Stephen Fletcher.
It appeared to look as if Gordon's right leg was strapped up after he spent a long time on the ground.
Zander Clark will be a capable replacement but with big games coming up including the smaller matter of an Edinburgh derby to come, Hearts won't want to lose their hero between the sticks.
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