The "King of Kings" left it late to secure his crowning glory in Paradise as Henrik Larsson hit two golden goals in his final competitive appearance at Parkhead.

After a sparkling seven-year stint as Celtic star striker, it looked like a final day of frustration as he squandered a throne-full of chances.

But after his team-mates had done everything but put the ball in the net for him, he pounced twice in the last nine minutes to take his Bank of Scotland Premier League tally to 30, before the visitors scored a late Mark Wilson penalty.

There was a carnival atmosphere at Parkhead with the championship trophy presentation and dramatic last-gasp victory over Rangers still fresh in the memory.

United came to spoil the party though and they were almost celebrating in the eighth minute after an uncharacteristic fumble from teenage goalkeeper David Marshall.

The youngster failed to hold a Barry Robson corner and Didier Agathe blocked Collin Samuel's goalbound shot and then Chris Sutton diverted Charlie Miller's follow-up behind.

At the other end Larsson would have eased the pressure on himself with a 12th-minute goal but for the heroics of Paul Gallacher.

He soared above the United defence to head Alan Thompson's free-kick towards the corner of the net but the Scotland goalkeeper flung himself to his right to tip the ball around the post.

Larsson showed his unselfish side in the 21st minute to coolly backheel the ball into the path of Stephen Pearson, after Sutton had flicked on Thompson's chip into the area, but the young player of the season's powerful shot was well pushed away by Gallacher.

The Swede was given a difficult chance to score on the half-hour when Petrov picked him out in the area - but he screwed his first-time right-foot shot wide of the post.

Gallacher again frustrated the champions in the 36th minute but he was not quite as convincing as before as he pushed McNamara's low long-range effort behind.

The Celtic man was back to doing what he does best in the 38th minute in getting ahead of Samuel in defence to put Robson's cross behind for a corner.

The game flowed and Pearson's cross-cum-shot was deflected wide before he came agonisingly close to converting McNamara's ball across the face of goal.

Celtic stepped up the pressure after the break and Larsson's shot was deflected before Sutton's header, from a Thompson corner, was saved by Gallacher.

Pearson was unfortunate in the 48th minute with a chip over the goalkeeper which went just wide of the upright.

Larsson was presented with another glorious chance seconds later from Thompson's throughball but he blazed into the sidenetting.

United responded again and Marshall did well to save Charlie Miller's shot from Jason Scotland's cross and then rush out to save at the feet of the former Rangers man.

It was not looking like Larsson's day as again he missed the target, this time with a header, after Agathe had picked him out in the box with an inviting deep cross.

The Swede went close again in the 58th minute with a flick over his head after McCracken had made a mess of Agathe's cross.

Samuel could have snatched the lead in the 61st minute but he headed Wilson's cross straight into the hands of Marshall.

Larsson fired a low shot straight at Gallacher from Sutton's pass, missed again with possibly one of the easiest chances he has ever had in his seven years at Parkhead as he blasted over from inside the six-yard box, before turning and firing over the top moments later from Sutton's flick-on.

Scotland went down in the box under the challenge of Varga before Marshall frustrated the visitors further with a point-blank save from Robson.

Robson was booked for a foul on Sutton which proved decisive for Celtic and Larsson, who finally bagged the goal he craved so badly.

Thompson swung in the free-kick and the top marksman got ahead of Gallacher to head into an empty net.

Larsson was not finished and he scored his second with just six minutes left to divert Agathe's cross past Gallacher and into the corner of the net.

Moments later Varga gave away a penalty for a foul on Scotland and Wilson sent Marshall the wrong way.

Ian McCall was seething soon after when his side failed to give his side a second penalty after Robson had gone down in the area.

As a result the United manager was sent to the stand for the final seconds and missed a tearful Larsson making a final league bow in front of his adoring worshippers.

Teams

Celtic Marshall, Balde, Varga, McNamara, Agathe, Lennon, Petrov, Pearson, Thompson (Wallace 87), Larsson, Sutton.

Subs Not Used: McGovern, Lambert, Beattie, Mjallby.

Goals: Larsson 81, 84.

Dundee Utd Gallacher, Innes, McCracken, Archibald, Wilson, Kerr, Miller, Easton (Holmes 84), Robson, Samuel (James Paterson 74), Scotland (Scott Paterson 90).

Subs Not Used: Bullock, Duff.

Booked: Kerr, Robson.

Goals: Wilson 87 pen.

Att: 58,386

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).