Substitute Patrick Schick glanced home an injury-time equaliser to preserve Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable unbeaten record and hand his side control of their Europa League last-16 tie against FC Qarabag.
The Bundesliga leaders looked like giving up their run of 34 matches unbeaten in all competitions when they went in 2-0 down at half-time in Baku, Juninho setting up the first and scoring the second with a silky piece of skill.
But Alonso, who had made eight changes to his starting XI, turned to his bench for inspiration and was rewarded as Florian Wirtz scored a delicate chip and Schick nodded in from close range in added-time.
It was a cruel finish for the Azerbaijani side, who lost twice to the same opponents in the group stages, but a further reminder of the resolve that Leverkusen have developed during a revelatory campaign.
Only Jonathan Tah, Robert Andrich and Alex Grimaldo survived the weekend win over Cologne and Qarabag took their chance to assert themselves in a lively start.
After forging three good chances in quick succession they deservedly took the lead in the 26th minute, Juninho robbing Tah on the press before cutting back across the box for Yassine Benzia. His powerful finish thudded into the roof of the net as the hosts turned up the heat.
The Germans were slow to respond, allowing Leandro Andrade a free header at the far post, and could have no complaints when they conceded again. This time it was brilliance from Juninho, who collected a beauty of a pass to spring the offside trap and race through one on one with Matej Kovar. With the deftest of touches he dragged the ball across the keeper, bouncing it over him with a kick off the pitch and leaving an open net to tap into.
Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka, Wirtz and Schick were all summoned for the rescue job and it was a much improved Leverkusen who hit back when Wirtz produced an inch-perfect lob in the 70th minute.
Kovar made a strong save from Juninho to keep the scoreline down and the ruthless visiting side hit their sucker punch just as time was running out, Schick planting Andrich’s cross into the bottom corner.
Leverkusen almost turned a draw into a win when Frimpong put a last-gasp header wide and will fancy themselves to finish the job on home soil.
Brighton 1-1 Manchester United: Parris equaliser denies former club in WSL
Nikita Parris’ equaliser earned Brighton a 1-1 draw against her former club Manchester United at the Amex Stadium in the Women’s Super League.
Grace Clinton got the visitors off to the perfect start after 10 minutes when she latched onto the end of Celin Bizet Ildhusoy’s cross from the right to turn home at the near post.
Substitute Madison Haley had a prime opportunity to equalise on the stroke of half-time but placed her shot just wide after Fran Kirby had cut back for her in the centre.
After a spell of pressure, Brighton eventually drew level after half-time through ex-United player Parris. The forward got a glancing touch from a diving header on a strike from range by Maria Thorisdottir to score.
Parris' goal was the first time United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce has conceded this season.
The scriptwriters would surely have had the returning Elisabeth Terland scoring a winner against her former club, but she found herself twice denied by Sophie Baggaley in the closing 10 minutes.
The result moves Manchester United top of the WSL, above their opponents on goal difference as Brighton continue to impress and move into second place. Both sides now sit level on 10 points with Manchester City, who play Aston Villa on Sunday.
Data Debrief: Goals galore
United have now scored in all four of their WSL games played so far this season, scoring eight goals in that run, while Brighton have scored in four out of their five matches played.
Clinton now has three goals to her name in the WSL this season, making her the joint-top scorer in the league. Team-mate Bizet Ildhusoy, who moved with her from Tottenham, now also tops the assists chart with three.
At the other end of the pitch, United captain Maya Le Tissier became the youngest player in the WSL (22 years, 184 days), to make 100 starts in the WSL. Fittingly, she has represented both United and Brighton during that time.
West Brom miss chance to top Championship as Luton hammer Watford
West Brom missed the chance to reach the Championship summit after Dane Scarlett's stoppage-time header snatched a 1-1 draw for Oxford United.
The Baggies seemed set to move to the top of the second-tier table, at least temporarily after Saturday's early kick-offs, when Karlan Grant drove in a first-half opener at the Kassam Stadium.
Des Buckingham's battling hosts stayed in the clash throughout, however, before Oxford captain Elliott Moore flicked on a long throw-in for Tottenham loanee Scarlett to head into the top corner in the 92nd minute.
Dropping two points late on leaves Carlos Corberan's side fifth in the Championship, with fourth-placed Burnley and league leaders Sunderland yet to play.
Further down the table, Luton Town claimed a much-needed 3-0 win over fierce rivals Watford to ease the mounting pressure on Rob Edwards at Kenilworth Road.
Jordan Clark needed just 11 minutes to open the scoring before Carlton Morris headed home Alfie Doughty's 47th-minute corner to punish some woeful Watford defending.
Substitute Jacob Brown sealed victory in the 91st minute after a long ball from goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski as Luton managed back-to-back league victories over Watford for the first time since 1992.
Luton sit 15th in the table after Saturday's victory, one place and a point behind Preston North End, who fought to a 1-0 win over Coventry City, leaving Mark Robins' side just above the relegation zone.
Emil Riis' 72nd-minute finish proved the difference at Deepdale, where Coventry have never won in 23 league attempts (D8 L15).
Coventry may be looking over their shoulders at Cardiff City, who are level on points with Robins' men after thrashing 10-man Plymouth Argyle 5-0 at home.
Rubin Colwill scored one and assisted two more as Cardiff, under the interim charge of Omer Riza, made the most of Ibrahim Cissoko's first-half dismissal for lashing out at Perry Ng.
Alex Robertson got things going with his 16th-minute opener before the Bluebirds ran riot after the interval with goals from Anwar El Ghazi, Callum Robinson and Chris Willock.
A crushing defeat leaves Wayne Rooney's Plymouth just three points clear of the relegation zone after the Championship's return from the October international break.
Tottenham 4-1 West Ham: Postecoglou's men claim dominant derby win
A rampant second-half performance saw Tottenham ease to a 4-1 win over London rivals West Ham on Saturday, easing the pressure on boss Ange Postecoglou.
Mohammed Kudus put West Ham ahead early on, firing home at the back post following good work from Jarrod Bowen on the Hammers' right, only for Dejan Kulusevski to fire in off the post to level in the 36th minute.
Under-fire head coach Postecoglou surprisingly withdrew James Maddison at half-time despite the England man assisting the equaliser, but that change paid off as Spurs swiftly pulled clear.
Yves Bissouma swept home in the 52nd minute, then Son Heung-min's shot deflected off both Jean-Clair Todibo and Alphonse Areola before creeping in for an own goal.
Son then made it three goals in an eight-minute span to kill the contest, racing onto a pass from Maddison's replacement Pape Sarr before finishing at the near post.
To add to West Ham's woes, Kudus was sent off for violent conduct late on, with the VAR intervening to recommend an on-field review after he raised his hands to Micky van de Ven's face.
Julen Lopetegui's visitors drop to 14th in the Premier League table with eight points, while Tottenham go sixth with 13 ahead of Saturday's other fixtures.
Data Debrief: Kulusevski takes centre-stage
It was certainly a surprise to see Maddison withdrawn at half-time, after he drove over halfway to assist Kulusevski's equaliser.
He became just the second Tottenham player on record (since 2003-04) to create five or more chances in a Premier League game while playing 45 minutes or fewer, after Darren Anderton versus Fulham in August 2003 (five chances created in 32 minutes).
However, Postecoglou's switch certainly paid off as Kulusevski shone in a number 10 role.
His clever reverse pass allowed Son in to force the own goal, while the Swede also led all players on the pitch for dribbles (six), duels contested (15) and won (eight) and possession regains (eight) in an all-action display.
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