Hibernian and Dundee United each scored in the final stages of the first half at Easter Road as the two sides left for the break with the scores level at 1-1.
Nadir Ciftci atoned for an earlier penalty miss by giving the Terrors a 43rd-minute lead.
The Turkish striker had wasted a golden chance for the Arabs when he sent a tame spot kick straight at home goalkeeper Ben Williams on 26 minutes.
The awarding of the penalty was contentious, anyway, with Paul Hanlon adjudged to have blocked off Ryan Dow as he entered the box, but it was unclear whether the initial contact was inside of the area.
Either way, Ciftci made amends with a well-taken goal as he ran onto a long ball, muscled off Hanlon and took the ball wide of Williams before firing into the net for his seventh of the season.
However, the visitors' lead lasted only four minutes as United goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak punched a corner against Hibs defender Jordan Forster and into the net two minutes into stoppage time.
