Callum Davidson whipped the ball in from the left flank and there was Gregory Tade.
Positioned centrally and well-placed to nod the ball into the back of the net, it handed St Johnstone a Europa League lifeline.
In the end it was not quite enough to send the Perth club beyond Turkish side Eskisehirspor back in 2012. But it’s a memory he still cherishes.
Nine years on Tade is urging the current group to express themselves and savour every moment of the much-anticipated glamour tie with Galatasaray. The former striker highlighted the importance of entering this week's game with a belief that progression is very much possible.
“Players from St Johnstone need to believe that they are going to be in the group stage,” Tade told the Perthshire Advertiser.
“If they go with this attitude, they have got a chance. It is 0-0 when you start the game. Go and play and say you belong there.
“The tricks and shots that you never tried in training or the league, do them now. The whole of Europe can see you. This is when you need to showcase your stuff.
“When many players do that at the same time, still listening to the instructions of the coach, you can do unbelievable stuff.
“The crowd in Turkey is a ridiculous atmosphere. It can bring out so much in any opponent. As a St Johnstone player, you dream of playing big football in Europe. Atmosphere-wise it will be amazing.
“You want to express yourself on the biggest stage and relish it.”
Tade actually missed the trip to Eskisehir in 2012 due to a hamstring injury. Saints ended up losing 2-0 on the night.
“A couple of days before the away tie I had a problem with my hamstring,” he remembers. “I missed the game and was devastated.
“But I did the work to come back for the return leg at home. I stayed to do my rehab because it was precious time. I didn’t want to travel with a bad hamstring. I was working hard to make it.
“It was the club’s first time playing European football in a while and maybe we were overwhelmed by the heat or situation. We were 2-0 down but I saw some of the footage of the game. I thought it was still possible for us.
“The way I was thinking was that we could score two goals. It never fazed us being down."
Tade was determined to be back fit for the return leg - and he was. His first half header from a Davidson delivery had the packed-out Perth crowd dreaming.
But Veysel Sari would later equalise to kill off hopes of advancing to the next stage. Regardless, it will forever be a special night in Tade’s footballing career.
“It was unbelievable,” he said. “We scored in the first half. They were playing decent football but we were matching them and were patient.
“Callum from nowhere got himself forward by the corner flag and whipped it in. I scored and the whole stadium erupted.
“At that moment I was just like: ‘This is football’. I felt I had made the right move in my career to play that game. It felt amazing because many people knew where I had started. I felt we were going to win it.”
The crowd that night was special and Tade, who also played European football with CFR Cluj and Steaua București, senses it will be another memorable occasion when Galatasaray arrive in Perth on August 12.
“It will give a great lift to the players,” Tade said of the Perth support.
“With everything that has been happening in the past year and a half, it is so important to get the fans back.
“If you play against St Johnstone, you are not going to win five or six zero. They are difficult to beat and a tough opponent. It is a great club and consistent. All of the time they finish in the top six and play well in the cups.
“A European tie has been missing for the crowd to be like: ‘Wow, we are a big club and have something to celebrate.’ I can feel that it is going to be a packed house. The players will play even better football.
“Callum will be experiencing European football as a manager so will want to entertain. The draw is just unbelievable.”
