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Hargan rose majestically to head a Kevin Deery corner into the net and stun the former Swedish champions.
The goal saw the home attendance trickle out of the stadium and now there will be a heavy demand for the Brandywell's small number of seats - 2,200 - for the second leg on July 27th.
It was a victory richly deserved by Stephen Kenny's heroes who, man for man, worked tirelessly throughout what proved a thrilling and pulsating evening.
Major credit also to team boss, Stephen Kenny, who continues to weave that magic wand of his and his tactics proved highly effective.
The Dubliner will have been absolutely delighted with his side's first half showing, the 'Candy Stripes' matching Gothenburg for effort and, indeed, were more than anxious to get forward at every available opportunity.
Displaying a 4-5-1 formation from the off, that system regularly switched to a 4-3-3 with both Kevin McHugh and Killian Brennan getting up on the flanks to join loan striker, Gary Beckett.
Just to prove that the 'Candy Stripes' were not going to freeze on the night, McHugh crossed the ball into the danger area after just two minutes, Brennan was first to react but his low drive failed to get the vital telling touch.
Gothenburg threatened six minutes later when their captain and dangerman, Niclas Alexandersson play a low cross in from the right but striker, Marcus Berg, failed to divert the ball onto the target.
With Derry also operating an offside ploy, Gothenburg got in behind in the visiting defence but midfelder, Pontus Wernbloom sent the ball high over the crossbar.
But back came a determined Derry and the hard-working Barry Molloy let fly in the 20th minute from 30 yards, his shot easily dealt with by Andersson.
Derry were clearly gaining in confidence at their impressive start with Ruaidhri Higgins also had a go from distance but his effort failed to trouble the home keeper.
In the 27th minute the home side created what was probably their first clear-cut opening, a cross by Adam Johansson into the danger area found his namesake, Magnus, who forced the ball wide when challenged by two Derry defenders.
Berg again went close for Gothenburg before Beckett robbed Mattais Bjarsmyr on the half-hour and while the Enniskillen man strode clear, his 'daisy-cutter' was comfortably saved by the ‘keeper.
On the stroke of half-time, Hargan screamed for a penalty when he felt he had been impeded following a corner but the referee waved play on much to the frustration of the defender.
Following the change of ends Gothenburg, now enjoying the advantage of the breeze at their backs, thrust forward during the opening minutes of the second half.
Indeed, in the 56th minute a cross by Stefan Selakovic presented Magnus Kihlberg with a free header but Forde did well to push the ball around his post.
And then the magnificent Derry fans inside the stadium almost went wild with delight in the 58th minute when a Killian Brennan shot looped over the keeper's head before crashing off the crossbar.
Battling against the wind and with the Derry support of at least 300 dancing on their side of the ground, up popped a happy Hargan, to etch his name into Derry City folklore.
Deery delivered another of his centres from the corner flag and when Hargan raced forward, unmarked, his header had goal written all over it - it was a sensational finish and a privilege to have been here to witness it.
Predictably, Gothenburg threw everything at the visiting Derry and a big pat on the back must got to the 'Candy Stripes' towering keeper, David Forde, who pulled off a brace of world class saves in the space of a minute to keep his side in the driving seat.
IFK GOTHENBURG: 4-4-2 - Andersson; A. Johansson, Bjarsmyr, M. Johansson, Johsson; Alexandersson, Kihlberg, Wernbloom, Vasquez (Wowoah, 83 mins.); Selakovic (Mourad, 65 mins.), Berg (Wallecstedt, 73 mins.).
DERRY CITY: 4-5-1 - Forde; McCallion, Kelly, Hutton, Hargan; McHugh (McGlynn, 89 mins.), Deery, Molloy, Higgins (Martyn, 93 mins.), Brennan; Beckett (O'Flynn, 85 mins.). Subs. not used McChrystal, Farren, Delaney and Jennings.