Many times over the course of this Earthquakes season, things seemed hopeless.
Sure, the team made a nice run in the US Open Cup to reach the final of that tournament for the first time, ultimately losing a nail-biter to Sporting Kansas City. But the Earthquakes' road losses seemed to be growing exponentially down the stretch, in quantity and in the amount of goals allowed. Their minus-21 goal differential would be the worst for a playoff-qualifying team in league history.
But, despite these less than ideal circumstances, the Quakes figured out a way to make five seasons of futility disappear in an instant with one flash of brilliance across the face of goal.