Everton held a narrow 2-0 advantage heading into their second leg Europa League qualifying playoff against Hajduk Split in Croatia. After Josip Radosevic narrowed the advantage to 2-1 with a 30-yard rocket in the 43rd minute, Everton came out for the second half knowing that their Europa League participation was well and truly in the balance.
But less than a minute after the restart, the 35,000 packed into the Stadion Poljud in Split were silenced by what could be the best goal in the competition all season.
Icelandic midfield dynamo Gylfi Sigurdsson, making his first start for the club following his move from Swansea City, intercepted a sloppy pass and, with only his second touch, laced a 50-yard effort into the net while falling backwards.
It was a world-class finish of brain and brawn, and it propelled Everton into the group stage, 3-1 on aggregate.