Henrik Larsson, in his final league appearance, left the field in tears at the end but not before he had made sure he had won the points for Celtic with two late goals, making his tally an incredible 240 in seven seasons.
The Swede will be the first to admit he had not been his sharpest before then, but such is his belief that when further chances presented themselves, he was happy to oblige.
Even a late penalty by Mark Wilson could not take the gloss off his triumphant farewell.
Hardly a fan had left the ground when he re-emerged to take a bow along with his team-mates who let him applaud his adoring fans first before eventually joining him.
United won an early corner and David Marshall fumbled Barry Robson's fierce inswinging cross which led to an almighty scramble in the Celtic goalmouth, with shots from Collin Samuel and Charlie Miller blocked.
It took a further four corners in quick succession before Marshall finally held to clear the danger.
Larsson nearly opened the scoring which the crowd so desperately wanted with a prodigious leap at an Alan Thompson free-kick but Paul Gallacher touched it around for a corner.
There was then hesitation between Marshall and Stan Varga before the keeper finally gathered.
Larsson created a chance for Stephen Pearson with a neat backheel, but the midfielder's powerful shot was parried by Gallacher.
Jackie McNamara was next to threaten with a run and drive which Gallacher at full stretch managed to turn around the post.
Pearson was then inches away from reaching McNamara's cross as the half ended goalless.
After half-time Craig Easton and Samuel missed a glorious chance from Jason Scotland's cutback to put United ahead, before Stilian Petrov cleared off the line.
Larsson hooked two chances over before United again passed up a superb opportunity when his header from Miller's long throw was volleyed at Marshall from ten yards by Robson.
There would be no further generosity from Celtic as they crowd erupted when Larsson headed home Thompson's free-kick with Gallacher, who otherwise had a superb afternoon, looking badly at fault.
Four minutes later, Larsson was on hand to touch home Didier Agathe's cross before Varga felled Scotland, allowing Wilson to score a late consolation from the penalty spot for United.