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Fans at Tannadice were treated to a cracker of a match as Dundee United and Inverness shared the spoils in a festive eight-goal thriller.

United went three up in eight minutes, Jon Daly and Rudi Skacel netting after Josh Meekings's own-goal opener.

A two-minute brace from Billy McKay brought the visitors back into the match before he converted a second-half penalty to complete his hat-trick.

Gary Warren headed Caley in front but Daly's injury-time penalty equalised.

An unfortunate own goal from Meekings put United ahead, as Daly mishit a cross from Barry Douglas into the path of the defender, who could only prod the ball into his own net.

Another error from the Inverness defence seconds later led to a second for the hosts. Graeme Shinnie attempted to clear the ball but his clearance cannoned off Daly's boot and past Antonio Reguero to double the lead.

An incredible opening spell concluded with Skacel scoring his first United goal with a cool right-footed finish past Reguero as the Inverness defence was carved open again.

Reguero was called into action as John Rankin tested the keeper with a shot from distance, before Gavin Gunning headed a Willo Flood corner over from seven yards out.

Inverness finally got a chance when Andrew Shinnie drove forward and rifled a 20-yard effort at goal, requiring Radoslaw Cierzniak to tip over.

And the pendulum began to swing towards the Highlanders when a Shinnie corner was met by a Richie Foran volley at the back post and McKay's deft header turned the ball into the net.

McKay doubled his tally within 60 seconds, nodding home an Aaron Doran corner to score the fifth goal of the opening half-hour.

Skacel came close with two efforts as the first half came to a close.

It was the home side who carved out the first real opportunity of the second period, Stuart Armstrong blazing a left-foot drive just wide from the edge of the box.

A low cross from Daly caused mayhem in the Inverness box as it deflected off Gary Warren's shin, but the net-bound ricochet was palmed away by Antonio Reguero.

Flood pounced on the rebound, but could only hit the post.

Seconds later, Flood's luck went from bad to worse as he bundled Ross Draper over in the box, McKay sending Cierzniak the wrong way to level the match and claim his treble.

Both sides continued to press for a winner in what had been an open encounter and Inverness had a great chance as Owain Tudor Jones headed a Graeme Shinnie corner goalward, Cierzniak acrobatically tipping over the bar.

Less than a minute later, Warren latched onto a deep cross from the right to head into the net off the post.

The drama was not over however as, in injury time, referee John Beaton penalised Foran for handball in the box.

Daly coolly stroked the ball down the middle to beat Reguero and have the final say in a breathtaking match.