It resembled the scene of a stunning and wondrous miracle. Thousands of delirious fans invaded the pitch as the final whistle blew.
Many threw themselves on the grass and kissed the turf and others ripped it up with their bare hands for souvenirs as Everton somehow managed to save their Premiership lives in the final seconds of a turbulent and tormented season.
The Everton players were carried shoulder high from the arena and manager Howard Kendall was hugged and kissed as he raced from the dugout to embrace his players.
This was the football match which had just about everything. A quite spectacular goal from Everton midfielder Gareth Farrelly, a missed penalty, a dramatic equaliser from Dion Dublin and minutes of excruciating tension as news came through from Stamford Bridge that Chelsea were beating Bolton.
And at the end the feeling persisted that this great escape - and on the slender margin of goal difference - after 44 years in the top flight was indeed a miracle.
Everton piled forward as they knew they must and in the sixth minute Goodison Park was rocking and swaying to the sound of salvation.
The ball was played forward, Duncan Ferguson rose to knock the ball down sweetly into the path of Farrelly and the Irish international let fly from 25 yards with surely the sweetest right-foot strike seen at Goodison Park all season.
The ball fairly flew past Magnus Hedman into the top corner. It was a goal fitting to win a championship, let alone clinch survival.
And as Farrelly was swamped in a sea of blue, the outpouring of emotion gave Everton the impetus to fight for every ball, to scrap for their very lives.
The lethargic and ineffective Madar was replaced by Danny Cadamarteri just after half-time and it was almost a signal that Everton needed only players who would die for the cause.
There has never been a doubt over Watson's pedigree on that score and it was his timely tackle which foiled Huckerby when he looked certain to score.
And so it continued until it seemed Everton must be safe when Paul Williams was adjudged to have brought down Danny Cadamarteri for an 84th minute penalty.
In true masochistic Scouse fashion, however, Nicky Barmby put the spot-kick to Hedman's right and the keeper palmed away the shot and Everton's fans were again biting their fingernails.
With just two minutes left Dublin headed that equaliser, sparking an agonising finale.
A huge firecracker sent a red plume of smoke swirling over the stadium and referee Alcock, with one eye on the impending invasion, finally blew the whistle by the tunnel.
After consigning Bolton to Division One, Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli will now turn his attention to Wednesday's Cup Winners' Cup final in Stockholm. Vialli revealed Gianfranco Zola looked like winning his battle against a groin injury, while Graeme Le Saux and Michael Duberry should also be fit.
:: Meanwhile, Chelsea assistant manager Gwyn Williams maintained Rangers midfielder Brian Laudrup would be a Chelsea player next season despite reports the Ibrox club are now demanding a £million fee.
"I don't think there's a problem and the move's still on," said Williams. "Nothing has changed. There's no reason to suggest the move won't go through."
