Dundee United captain Ross Graham headed in an own goal as Dundee struck twice in stoppage time to rescue an unlikely and dramatic derby draw at Dens Park.
Ashley Hay prodded in from close range on 94 minutes before Graham glanced the ball into his own net from a free-kick he had given away with a terrible challenge.
The goal sparked wild celebrations from the home players and fans, and effectively ended United’s slim hopes of making the Scottish Premiership’s top six.
United led through an Amar Fatah spot-kick and a Luca Stephenson header, with the breakthrough coming early in the second half when home captain Simon Murray was punished for handball from a pass that was heading away from the penalty area.
United now sit nine points behind sixth-placed Falkirk with three games before the split, while Dundee stay two points behind their city rivals.
The visitors missed a golden early chance when Iurie Iovu headed over the top from just a couple of yards.
With the action thundering from end to end, Dundee came close when a Cameron Congreve cross took a deflection and goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer had to claw the ball away from under his crossbar.
In response, Fatah burst into the penalty box before his shot was repelled by Jon McCracken.
Congreve and Tony Yogane were menacing on the wings for the hosts and the latter cut inside to thrash an effort on target, only for defender Krisztian Keresztes to get his head in the way.
The impressive Fatah had three chances in quick succession, forcing two stops from McCracken in between hooking an effort into the side-netting.
The visiting goalkeeper then made a fabulous fingertip save to keep out a fierce, rising strike from Vicko Sevelj.
Soon after Fatah had stroked in the penalty, Sevelj fired narrowly wide.
The visitors were well worth a two-goal lead when Stephenson thumped in a back-post header from a sumptuous Will Ferry delivery.
Johnny Russell, who last played in this fixture in December 2012, almost added a third, with McCracken showing great reflexes to push away a powerful shot from the substitute.
That tremendous save was to prove vital as Steven Pressley’s side pulled off a remarkable escape act in the closing moments, replacement striker Hay helping the ball over the line from a corner and then on the receiving end of Graham’s dangerous tackle that led to the equaliser.