Newcastle United players left the field to thunderous applause after running the champions Manchester City extremely close at St James' Park.
On a day in which many Geordies would have settled for a point against Pep Guardiola's side, Eddie Howe's team could and perhaps should have inflicted one of the most truly memorable results of recent history.
Having gone a goal down early they roared back to score three times without a City reply but lost their way just after the hour.
READ MORE: Player ratings from Newcastle United 3-3 Manchester City
The final half an hour of the game may prove to be a learning curve but fans won't criticise when the team give it everything like this.
And the fact that a clutch of players left the field with disappointed expressions on their faces perhaps shows how far the Magpies have come in a short space of time.
The two sides went in against each other setting up with 4-3-3 formations and Newcastle made a lively start.
A corner routine ended up with Kieran Tripper whipping in a cross from the right that Ederson needed two hands to cling on to at the back post.
City's first strike at goal came after four minutes when Rodri let fly from outside the box but it was blazed over Nick Pope's goal.
But Pope was beaten a minute later when Bernardo Silva was allowed to cut inside and drift the ball into the box before it fell to Ilkay Gundogan who had time and space to take a touch then pick his spot from close range.
For some reason, nobody in black and white opted to track the former Borussia Dortmund star's run and City led early.
It would prove to be a mere early setback though as the Magpies clawed their way back into it.
On eight minutes Bruno Guimaraes picked up a yellow card for a block on Kevin De Bruyne - a challenge that set the tone.
The Belgium star was then allowed another free run down the right before he struck the ball against the legs of Pope.
United were saved again by Pope on 16 minutes when Phil Foden got into the box and struck an effort at goal, only to be denied by the feet of the Toon keeper.
Newcastle then carved Man City open down the left as Allan Saint-Maximin rolled it across the face of goal for Miguel Almiron but he fired high over the top.
Erling Haaland was fouled just outside the box on 19 minutes to hand City a dangerous free-kick but De Bruyne's set-piece was palmed to safety by Pope.
Guardiola was forced into an early change before the mid-way point of the first half when Nathan Ake was replaced by Ruben Dias following a knock.
Saint-Maximin then powered down the left before firing a shot straight at Ederson but the Brazil stopper made a brilliant save.
Callum Wilson then got in on the left-hand side of the penalty area but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.
Wilson got another sight of goal from Kieran Trippier's corner after Sven Botman knocked it down but he could not get the power behind his shot.
Seconds later Newcastle were level when Saint-Maximin found space on the left, beating Rodri and Kyle Walker, before crossing into the danger area with Almiron applying the finish via his stomach muscles with 28 minutes gone.
It was initially deemed offside but after a quick VAR check ref Jarred Gillett awarded the leveller and it was game on again.
Six minutes before the break Saint-Maximin exploded into the City half before flicking it to Wilson who controlled well before firing it past Ederson for 2-1.
And Newcastle went in at the break with a well-deserved lead despite having just 32% possession.
City inevitably threw everything at Newcastle looking for the equaliser and went close on 51 minutes when Erling Halaand's shot was tipped on to the post by Pope.
In response, Saint-Maximin's bustling run earned Newcastle a free-kick just outside the box in front of the Gallowgate End.
That allowed Trippier to eye up the set-play with the crowd baying for another special moment from the full-back.
And he duly obliged by whipping it over the defensive wall and beyond Ederson to make it 3-1 and raise the roof for a third time at St James' Park.
At that point, Newcastle were in Dreamland but City demonstrated their ridiculously high levels of class in the remainder of the game.
Yet City pulled one back on the hour mark after De Bruyne crossed from the right for Rodri at the back post.
After Rodri dug the ball out, Norway ace Haaland was on hand to flick home and reduce arrears.
Pope then made a good block to deny Dias and keep Newcastle in front before City went on to level the game up again.
The Toon keeper then came out and swept clear with his feet to deny Haaland after he'd been played clean through.
And the crazy goalscoring contest took another twist four minutes later when De Bruyne's sweeping pass found Silva who coolly clipped it over Pope to make it 3-3.
Howe looked to make changes with 22 minutes to go and told Sean Longstaff and Chris Wood to get prepared.
Wilson was withdrawn for the Magpies and Willock soon followed him after his number came up.
Bruno nicked the ball in the final third on 72 minutes to set up Saint-Maximin but he steered it wide.
With 14 minutes left it felt like there was a true controversy unfolding as ref Jarred Gillett flashed a red card at Trippier for a late challenge on De Bruyne.
The incident went to VAR and after the Australian ref Gillett had reviewed the decision on screen - with help from fans in the East Stand - it was downgraded to just a yellow card.
However, that was the right decision with the challenge certainly not malicious nor in the category of serious foul play.
With seven minutes to go Jacob Murphy was introduced for Almiron after the Paraguay skipper had run himself into the ground.
If there was a period of the game that settled down it was after the VAR storm - but only slightly.
Yet Pope had to be alert and alive to smother Gundogan's venture into the box
Hartlepool official Tony Harington displayed a nervous five minutes of stoppage time as the crowd held their breath.
Burn was knocked down by a clearance from his own player during the added period meaning an enforced change.
Emil Krafth replaced Burn who went off to a standing ovation as the seconds drifted by.
There was no cruel late blow for Newcastle nor could they find a winner after investing all of their energy into an entertaining afternoon at St James'.
They may not have won the points but they continue to win the hearts of the Tyneside public with another superb effort.
Attendance: 52,258
Referee: Jarred Gillett
READ NEXT
Ralph Hasenhuttl makes transfer prediction that will give Newcastle supporters new signing hope
Everything Eddie Howe said at his press conference
Newcastle given telling Joao Pedro transfer hint by Watford despite what senior source had said
Granit Xhaka tells Arsenal to play like Newcastle as he turns air blue in All or Nothing rant
Joao Pedro makes simple two-word vow as Watford supporters beg Newcastle transfer target to stay
