Nico Schlotterbeck attempted to play the ball out from the back for Serhou Guirassy in the 88th minute with Werder Bremen looking to press their high defensive line.
Borussia Dortmund were leading 2-0 and seemed home and dry, but that ball forward was intercepted by Oskar Wojcik.
It came off kindly for Ludovit Reis, who made BVB midfielders Felix Nmecha and Joey Veerman look like training cones by streaming past them and attempting a shot from outside the box that came off the post before crashing into the net.
Having spent much of the game shoehorned inside their own half, the River Islanders suddenly had a silver lining, and built on this new-found momentum with another goal in stoppage-time to wipe out Dortmund's lead.
It was a rare moment of gaffe from Schlotterbeck, who's otherwise been so reliable at the back. He also emerged as their defensive leader last season when the BVB conceded the fewest number of goals in the Bundesliga, making a statement with his tenacity and robustness.
But don't let that one moment eclipse an otherwise impressive game the German international had until then, shining at both ends of the pitch for a brilliant all-round performance.
With the BVB playing a high line, the back-three acted as an additional layer of playmakers with their passing range. Schlotterbeck completed 118 passes of which 90 came in the opposition box while also laying 12 long balls, looking to stretch Bremen's defensive shape.
Besides, Schlotterbeck didn't hesitate to break forward and go for goal himself, mustering four shots in the game, twice as many as striker Serhou Guirassy, a testament to his attacking intent and willingness to make a difference in the final third. He came close in the 47th minute with a routine effort from range, but Bremen custodian Karl Hein dived low to save it.
His persistence ultimately paid off in the 85th minute, when the 26-year-old lept the highest to meet with Joey Veerman's corner and head it home from close-range. It was his first goal of the season and Dortmund's second of the night, as they appeared to have the match in the bag.
Bundesliga's joint highest-scoring defender last season with five goals, Schlotterbeck once again reminded everyone of his aerial threat and how dangerous he can be when serviced properly. His knack for goals has added a new dimension to BVB's offensive vanguard and this one in particular proved more crucial after Bremen's shock comeback.
The Germany international registered eight defensive contributions too, including four clearances and one block to show his attacking game hadn't come at the cost of his defensive resolve. He helped Dortmund contain Bremen even in those rare moments of counter-attacks and hounded their players on the ball like a hungry Hyena chasing down a gazelle.
There were a lot of uncertainty surrounding his match fitness ahead of the kick-off after returning from the international break with an ankle injury, with rumors suggesting Schlotterbeck may sit out of this one. But not only did he recover sooner than expected, but started in the lineup, delivered a defensive masterclass, and scored a late goal too, underlining his importance in the squad.
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