Leeds's first-half goal was scored by Mateusz Klich. This was Leeds' first goal before a full Elland Road crowd in 17 months.
Elland Road could soon be able to accommodate 60,000 Leeds United fans on matchdays if Leeds United's ambitious future plans are realized. Even if this capacity was available on Saturday, it would not have been sufficient to meet demand or produce as much noise.
This is the 17th home Premier League match that Whites fans can attend together.
Sixteen of those hours were spent in the relative wildernesses of the lower leagues. Then came 18 months of long-awaited promotion and a full season with top-flight football that was enjoyable, but disappointingly lackluster.
They arrived in white, yellow, and blue attired for Saturday's celebration.
Although they didn't win the victory they desired, Everton was ready to fight fire with fire. However, they served notice that Leeds are back and Elland Road isn't a place for the faint-hearted.
"They've missed us, and we've missed 'em"
It was almost as if fans were always present at LS11.
The queues snaked past the stadium's burger vans before kick-off. There was also the familiar smell and aroma of cooked onions in the tunnel at Lowfields Road. Graveleys couldn’t get enough fish batter fast enough to keep the bar at the Old Peacock three deep.
Luke Ayling, who later played air guitar and lashed out in a volley at Huddersfield, was the last to witness such scenes at the ground.
Luke Ayling scored a thunderous goal in Leeds' last home match in front of a capacity crowd
In the months that followed, there have been moments of joy together - including the gathering outside the ground where promotion was sealed. There were also static open-top bus salutes from the players and the admission of 8,000 lucky fans to a dead rubber against West Brom at end of last season.
Saturday was something different. A long overdue outpouring in joy, relief, and recognition of all the achievements of the past year and a quarter.
Kick-off was approaching, and neon yellow flags were waved unison at every stand. Club anthem Marching On Together was belted out with great vigour, and there wasn't a dull moment.
The players did not lose sight of it.
Match of the Day's Liam Cooper, Leeds captain, said that it was "incredible to be walking out to this atmosphere and energy." "The fans have been starved and we really miss them.
"If it's going like that every single game, we'll absolutely be buzzing."
Kalvin Phillips, a midfielder for England, said that he started his first match after the Euro 2020 final. It's amazing how much they miss us, and how much we have missed them.
It's gone but not forgotten
Before kick-off, the statue of Billy Bremner was covered in scarves and floral tributes.
Unfortunately, some people will never come back.
Near the intersection of Elland Road and Lowfield Road, the statue of Billy Bremner was filled with floral tributes and scarves. At the feet of one the club's greatest heroes, a dad, a brother and a sister were all represented in bouquets.
Fans of all ages stood in awe at the passing of the saddened before they could enjoy the good times that followed.
Some names are recognizable to the entire fanbase.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, a long list of Leeds players from the past have been lost. Many of these legends were part of Don Revie's greatest period on the pitch.
Jack Charlton was the last Leeds player to make more appearances. Peter Lorimer passed away this March.
Norman Hunter was a regular at this venue right up to the Huddersfield match. As they were so central to Revie's defense for many years, the south stand at Elland Road is named after him.
Terry Cooper, Trevor Cherry and Mick Bates, Peter Hampton and Alejandro Sabella, Frank Worthington, many long-serving people, all loved and fondly remembered.
Everton 2-2 Leeds United: We won the game, but we gave away too many opportunities - Bielsa
Fantastic, fast and fierce
The game was a fitting tribute to the Revie stars who were as famous for their brilliance as they were for their bite.
It was fierce, fast and amazing, between two teams that were determined to win and willing to put in a lot of effort to do so.
Leeds needed a win. Manchester United's 5-1 defeat at Leeds had already caused nerves to jiggle in a fanbase that was quick to panic and familiar with the fate of Sheffield United, their south Yorkshire rivals, in their second Premier League season.
Everton had already won a victory last weekend against Southampton and they were able to win two more.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin's VAR sanctioned penalty briefly silenced the home crowd, before his celebration in front of Kop provoked anger.
Demarai Gray, the man of the match, shook them up again in the second period. He finished neatly to make it 2:1 after Mateusz Klich’s chipped parity-restoring chipped conclusion.
Raphinha, Leeds’ Brazilian forward, won the last word. He scored three goals in three against the Toffees, provoking a cheer that would have shaken silverware all across Beeston.
Leeds was awarded a share of the spoils by Raphinha for his outstanding curling performance
