Daniel van Buyten became the most unlikely of heroes as his brace, the second in injury time, ensured Bayern Munich twice came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw from what was the most exhilarating of UEFA Champions League games against Milan.
The former Manchester City defender produced two close range finishes more befitting of a striker, the second in the 92nd minute, to give Bayern advantage at the half way stage of a now beautifully poised quarter-final.
A refereeing decision of staggering ineptitude had looked to have handed Milan a crucial lead to take to Germany, as Kaka's hotly disputed penalty put them in control at 2-1.
As Kaka made inroads down the left flank in the 82nd minute, with the game level at 1-1, Bayern defender Lucio jockeyed his man before finding the perfect challenge in nicking the ball off Milan's playmaker, for what everyone in the stadium must have believed was a corner.
Russian referee Yuri Baskakov disagreed and from the resulting spot-kick, Kaka composed himself before calmly slotting in his seventh goal of a hugely impressive European campaign.
Just minutes earlier, in the 78th, van Buyten had been reeling away in delight after levelling out Andrea Pirlo's first half opener.
A remarkable 14 European Cup winners took to the field for what on paper was a contest of epic proportions, and while there was plenty of intrigue, on this showing, both sides must improve considerably if that number is to be added to.
When two European heavyweights meet the early sparring which normally ensues is characterised by a respectful reserve and so it transpired in Giuseppe Meazza for long spells in the first half, only for Milan to find an opener five minutes before the break.
Prior to Pirlo's goal, both sides were neat and organised but is was Milan that conjured the best two opportunities, as Michael Rensing in Bayern's goal twice made a mockery of his president Franz Beckenbauer's accusation that he lacked the stature to replace the suspended legend Oliver Kahn.
Gone were the histrionics of Bayern's blond Bavarian as a younger, more agile model, produced a stunning instinctive stop to parry Massimo Ambrosini's close range header from a corner over his crossbar.
Prior to Ambrosini's failure to register and in just the second minute, Clarence Seedorf stretched every last sinew but just failed to connect with Pirlo's devilish delivery from the right. It was, though, far from a vintage Italian masterclass as Bayern's pragmatic approach and intelligence in possession soon had the natives restless.
Indeed, Bayern may even have taken the lead when Andrea Ottl let fly from distance and Dida did just did enough to parry the ball over, when there seemed little genuine danger for a goalkeeper of the Brazilian's ability.
If Dida was less than assured, at the other end, Rensing was excelling as Alberto Gilardino's incredulity was plastered all his face, when he failed to convert Massimo Oddo's cross on the stretch from no more than four yards - denied by a save of stupendous proportions.
Oddo's forward forays on the overlap were a consistent cause of consternation for Bayern and it was from the full-back's fine cross that Pirlo etched his name on the scoresheet. A deep ball from the right saw the Italian schemer evade Bayern's stagnant back four and with a perfectly looping header catch out a surprised Rensing and perhaps, the Kaiser's words were vindicated.
Just before the interval and the peripheral Kaka, who improved in the second half, cried penalty but on closer inspection the challenge of his compatriot Lucio was timed to perfection in the area. History would later repeat itself, albeit with a critical twist.
It was Kaka that should have doubled his side's advantage when he missed his kick from six yards, when a goal looked the inevitable conclusion to Ambrosini's perfect delivery.
Bayern's exertions in the second 45 minutes were much like the first in that they had plenty of graft but precious little craft, as their efforts in the attacking third lacked any real verve or cutting edge.
That did not, though, stop them from twice registering with goals Milan will feel could have been avoided with greater assurance at the back.
Van Buyten's first of a remarkable evening saw the big Belgian show a predator's instinct in converting substitute Claudio Pizarro's knock down, after he had out-muscled Oddo at the far post.
He must, though, have thought his efforts were in vain when Bayern fell to a piece of ludicrous officiating, but with a trademark resolve, the German giants played to the last, and were rewarded when van Buyten slammed home a fine half volley from the tightest of angles to secure a late, late draw.
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The first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals were played out on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Of the three English teams remaining in the competition, only one was able to earn themselves a win in the first leg, that being Liverpool.  Draws occurred in the Chelsea/Valencia and Milan/Bayern games, while Manchester United lost on the road in Rome.