The Sharks were leading the Super Rugby champions when the final hooter sounded, but Mitch Hunt's late intervention denied them.
Mitch Hunt rescued the Crusaders with a last-gasp try he also converted to salvage a 21-21 draw with the Sharks, while there were two red cards in the Reds' Super Rugby win over the Sunwolves.
The visiting Sharks were on the brink of pulling off a big upset at AMI Stadium on Friday, only for Hunt to deny them by dotting down and adding the extras after the final hooter had sounded.
Curwin Bosch booted all Sharks' points with seven penalties, the fifth of which gave Robert du Preez's side a 15-7 lead after 50 minutes following Codie Taylor's try in a scrappy first half.
Jack Goodhue then took a pass from Kieran Read - making his 150th appearance in the competition - and beat two defenders before crossing the line for a score, which Hunt converted.
The reliable Bosch was on target with two more kicks at goal to leave Sharks scenting a famous win, but Hunt rewarded the defending champions' persistence with a try after a sustained period of pressure before bisecting the posts to prevent only a second loss of the season.
Bryce Hegarty scored 17 points - including the opening try - as the Reds rallied to triumph 32-26 in a thriller at Suncorp Stadium.
The spirited Sunwolves fought back to lead courtesy of a second try from Gerhard van den Heever despite Semisi Masirewa being sent off for a high tackle 10 minutes into the second half - the same player having already been shown a yellow before the break.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa touched down for a decisive score eight minutes from time with Sunwolves down to 13 men after Yu Tamura was sent to the sin bin.
Lock Harry Hockings was dismissed for stamping on Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco, but the hosts held on for a victory which leaves them only two points behind Australian Conference leaders the Rebels.
