I think I may have mentioned it before, but IMHO one should always have an absolute minimum of one alternative (preferably two or more if possible) flight between connections. OK, so you might have to hang around a few hours in a Lounge waiting. But is that not a small price to pay to make a big ex-EU saving?

Anyway at least things worked out for the OP and kudos to the airport staff who helped.

PS And that alternative should still be there IMHO, even if overnight stopping.