Two stoppage time goals from Joe Rafferty and Daniel Adshead condemned Oldham Athletic to a defeat in the Checkatrade Trophy.
Mohamed Maouche also saw red for a challenge on Matthew Gillam early into the second half.
It was a slow start to the game and the first shot of any sort came from Oliver Rathbone who fired comfortably over the bar.
Latics created the first real chance of the game as Gevaro Nepomuceno crossed from the left, but goalkeeper Magnus Norman punched away with Callum Lang waiting to tap home.
However, the punch went straight to Cameron Dummigan who struck a left footed volley which Norman had to deal with.
Rob Hunt then almost found Sam Surridge inside the six-yard box, but MJ Williams stuck a foot in to clear.
Rochdale created the best chance of the half as Rathbone got in behind the Oldham backline and pulled it back to Gillam whose shot was blocked by Peter Clarke and George Edmundson.
Clarke then produced another fantastic block as David Perkins fired from the edge of the box and the shot deflected over.
The second half completely changed the face of the game as Maouche saw red for a challenge on Gillam which may have seemed a little harsh.
In the aftermath Peter Clarke appeared to be pushed in the face, but the officials deemed it only a yellow card for Rafferty.
Jordan Lyden then cleared Ryan Delaney’s header off the line before Rathbone’s attempted scissor kick went comfortably wide.
Daniel Iversen then had to be at his very best as he clawed away a Rathbone effort after Brett Inman had crossed to the midfielder.
Perkins then seemed to pull back Callum Lang as he was running through the midfield, but the referee gave no foul when Perkins was probably lucky not to pick up a second yellow card.
As the game entered stoppage time Lyden was adjudged to have handled in the area with Rafferty, who shouldn’t have been on the pitch, stepping up to score.
Latics pushed men forward for the equaliser with Adshead running through and slotting it past Iversen for the second.
Latics will look to bounce back when Bury visit Boundary Park this Saturday.
Attendance 1854 (911 Away)
Rochdale
Norman, Rafferty, Delaney, MJ.Williams, J.Williams, Rathbone, Done, Perkins, Inman, Morley © (Adshead 85’), Gillam (Yonsian 85’)
Oldham Athletic
Iversen, Dummigan (Hamer 29’), Edmundson, Clarke ©, Hunt, Lang, Maouche, Missilou, Nepomuceno (Branger-Engone 87’), O’Grady (Lyden 55’), Surridge