Eddie Lewis scored a marvellous free-kick in the final minute as Preston came from behind three times to earn a point against 10-man Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
The American's late equaliser served as the climax to an evening of almost uninterrupted excitement, especially during a second half which saw four goals and Jeff Whitley's sending-off for an horrific two-footed tackle.
Sunderland, playing their first league game on home soil for two months, had two efforts disallowed before Tyrone Mears headed into his own net in the 25th minute.
Despite showing little attacking threat, North End equalised on the stroke of half-time through David Healy, only for Sean Thornton to restore Sunderland's lead with a stunning free-kick within eight minutes of coming off the bench.
Though Mears atoned for his earlier error by levelling in the 79th minute, Marcus Stewart's penalty looked to have secured three points for the hosts.
That was until Lewis repeated Thornton's feat in the dying seconds, scoring with a superbly-taken set-piece from 25 yards.
Sunderland had the ball in the back of the Preston net after barely 60 seconds, Tommy Smith volleying past Andy Lonergan, but his effort was ruled out for an earlier handball by Stephen Wright.
Preston responded to that early scare in admirable fashion, Fuller heading Graham Alexander's corner over the crossbar before Healy stung Mart Poom's palms with a fierce drive.
Though Lonergan was beaten again when John Oster converted Whitley's cross, he was saved by an offside flag.
But the hosts made the breakthrough shortly after, Mears heading in off the underside of the crossbar as he attempted to clear Kevin Kyle's cross.
Healy flashed a shot wide of Poom's right-hand upright as Preston sought an immediate equaliser, while Whitley was off target with a weak attempt at the other end of the pitch.
Lonergan was called into action by Kyle seven minutes before the break, but it needed a crucial block from Gary Breen to deny Fuller an equaliser.
That chance aside, North End created little else of note until Healy's well-taken goal, his third in as many games. Ricardo Fuller chested Simon Lynch's cross into the path of Healy, who fired home off the inside of a post.
Lonergan was not tested by Kyle's header in the first minute of the second half, and Wright was similarly wayward with a 35-yard strike.
Sunderland's frustrations at failing to turn their dominance into another goal were symbolised by Whitley, whose reckless lunge at Cresswell unsurprisingly
earned him a straight red card.
His dismissal prompted Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy to withdraw Oster in place of Thornton, and the former Tranmere midfielder demonstrated his undoubted
ability shortly after with a beautiful curling free-kick 20 minutes from time.
Mears took Graham Alexander's cross on his chest to volley past Poom before Stewart restored Sunderland's advantage in the 84th minute. Rob Edwards was
penalised for a foul on Stewart, who beat Lonergan with the resulting spot-kick.
Lewis, though, had the final word in the dying stages of a breathless encounter.
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