Chaos surrounded Gotham forward Katie Stengel late in Sunday’s overtime period when her teammate Jaedyn Shaw flicked the ball to her in space.

Stengel’s heart raced and she gave herself a quick pep talk, saying, “Oh just please hit this with all your might and keep it on target.”

As the ball flew past the Current goalkeeper and into the back of the net, relief overcame Stengel followed by her teammates.

Stengel’s goal in the 121st minute lifted Gotham to a 2-1 quarterfinals win as the eighth-seeded visitors pulled off an all-time playoff upset and put an end to the Current’s historic season.

Last week, midfielder Jaelin Howell said Gotham was determined to “shock everybody.”

That’s what they did Sunday to earn their third consecutive semifinals berth.

“It was a big, long game and I think it was the best we played all season long that I’ve seen,” Stengel said. “Everyone was working well together.”

It was a dramatic ending to a game filled with spectacle.

The game was scoreless at the half, despite both teams generating good looks.

Shaw got Gotham on the board first after netting her first career playoff goal in the 67th minute.

Gotham held the lead all the way until Ellie Wheeler tied the game six minutes into stoppage time.

During the brief break between regulation and the extra-time period, Gotham regrouped.

“We really came together in that moment,” Shaw said, “and we really knew that we could come out of this game with a win.”

Gotham may not have somewhat stumbled into the playoffs.

Their uncharacteristic showings down the stretch resulted in Gotham finishing eighth in the league standings for the final playoff spot.

Gotham felt outsiders were quick to write them off and hand the win to the Current, who had earned this year’s NWSL shield seven weeks prior and set multiple league records this season.

“The table doesn’t show how good this team is,” Shaw said. “We’re not an eighth place team, and I’m, like, I’m sorry but underdog my ass. We’re not an underdog.”

But Gotham showed up as their best version when it mattered most.

The trademarks that helped Gotham win their first championship only two years ago were on full display.

Gotham showed relentless grit and unwavering determination.

They didn’t at all look phased by the Current, who were widely considered the favorites to win this year’s championship.

They didn’t play it safe either and it paid off.

“We really just stuck together through… the highs and lows,” Shaw said. “It just really showed how much chemistry, how much we want to work for each other and I think this is just the beginning.”

Gotham not only picked up the club’s first win against Kansas City, but they also delivered the Current their first loss at CPKC Stadium this season.

With the win, Gotham advance to face the fourth-seeded and defending champion Orlando Pride in a rematch of last year’s semifinals.

Shaw believes the best is yet to come for Gotham.

“It’s only the beginning,” she said. “This is the first game of three, so we’re gonna keep pushing.”