Joao Palhinha’s 43rd-minute goal fired Tottenham to Premier League safety with a 1-0 home win over Everton.
Defeat at Chelsea on Tuesday meant Spurs required a draw or victory to guarantee survival and ensure West Ham’s result at home to Leeds had no bearing on the north London club’s destiny.
Even though Roberto De Zerbi had sparked an incredible turnaround for Tottenham since his March arrival and guided them out of the bottom four last month, his next magic trick was to end a 10-match winless run at home in the Premier League.
Palhinha’s scruffy goal two minutes before half-time earned Spurs a deserved lead at the break, but a nervy second half followed with news of West Ham goals filtering through.
Everton boss David Moyes shuffled his pack and substitute Tyrique George almost produced a last-gasp leveller, but Antonin Kinsky’s flying save in stoppage-time confirmed a first Tottenham home league win since December 6 and sent West Ham down.
A 2-1 loss at Chelsea on Tuesday ensured a final-day decider for Spurs fans, who lined the streets in their thousands to welcome the team coach and provided a rapturous reception to greet the players onto the pitch.
With injured captain Cristian Romero surprisingly present next to the dugout despite a trip to Argentina this week, Spurs started strongly and after an early Everton corner was navigated, Conor Gallagher fired wide.
Tottenham continued to get joy from set-pieces and after Kevin Danso dragged an effort well off target, Palhinha sliced wide while Everton defender Jake O’Brien was cautioned for pulling back Mathys Tel.
A water break followed with temperatures up to 30 degrees in the capital, before Pedro Porro’s successful 50-50 challenge on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sparked a cry of noise and another Danso effort caused panic in the Everton penalty area.
De Zerbi’s team had pressed and probed without finding the breakthrough, but that changed in the 43rd minute. Tel’s dangerous corner found Palhinha, who crashed a header against the post but was quickest to the rebound, with his scuffed effort creeping over the line before Thierno Barry could clear.
De Zerbi raced off down the touchline before he kicked a bottle up in the air into the crowd to celebrate.
The half-time whistle was greeted with enormous applause, but a problem with the technology of one of Michael Oliver’s assistant referees meant a delay at the start of the second half.
Once play resumed, Jordan Pickford almost spilled a shot by England team-mate Djed Spence into his own net before there were stoppages for treatment on Palhinha and Tel.
News of a breakthrough for West Ham at home to Leeds provided an injection of anxiety and Moyes had already introduced fresh legs in Tyrique George and Harrison Armstrong for Everton.
Another water break followed and De Zerbi made his first roll of the dice with substitute Randal Kolo Muani lifting the ball over from 25 yards straight after his introduction.
Fellow substitute Pape Sarr was cautioned soon after for a dive and Spurs required stand-in captain Micky van de Ven to intercept a dangerous cross by Everton substitute George before nine minutes of stoppage time were added on.
There was one big moment left as George cut inside and let fly in the ninth-minute of stoppage-time, but Kinsky produced a flying stop to clinch a win which helped ensure Tottenham avoided a first relegation in 49 years.
