Everton fought back from a two-goal deficit at halftime to beat Crystal Palace 3-2 in their final Premier League home game of the season on Wednesday night.
Nigerian International Alex Iwobi and his Everton teammates really needed a win to ensure their Premier League status for at least another season, and they got it despite having to fight extremely hard.
Frank Lampard‘s side needed to be at their best after a 3-2 home loss to Brentford, but they got off to a rocky start on Wednesday.
Palace took the lead after just 21 minutes, thanks to a free header from Jean-Philippe Mateta, who was set up by a superb Eberechi Eze free-kick.
Everton could have gained a numerical advantage after a harsh challenge on Anthony Gordon, but Jordan Ayew was only given a yellow card.
Ayew extended Palace’s lead just minutes after the Ghanaian star should have been sent off.
Everton were edging closer to relegation than safety at the time, with Burnley taking the lead away at Aston Villa.
The Toffees’ second half was dramatic, with three second-half goals from Michael Keane, Richarlison, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin helping Frank Lampard’s club cross the crucial 39-point mark.
Hundreds of Everton supporters rushed onto the Goodison Park pitch after Calvert-Lewin’s goal.
And, after surviving seven agonizing minutes of injury time, the Toffees secured their highest three-point haul of the season.
Meanwhile, Chelsea secured third place in the Premier League table despite a 1-1 draw against Leicester City at Stamford Bridge.
The Foxes took the lead in the sixth minute, but Marcos Alonso equalized for the Blues in the 34th minute.
Despite creating numerous chances after that, there were no more goals to separate the two clubs, but Chelsea will finish the season in third place with their 71 points, regardless of what happens on the final day of action this weekend.
Burnley held Aston Villa to a 1-1 draw in the other game of the night. Their survival will be assured if they win on the final day against Leeds United.