The defender latched onto a loose ball after his initial header was blocked to send the Addicks into ecstasy and up to English football’s second tier for the first time in three years.
Charlton fully deserved their victory but pulled it off in almost the hardest possible way after leaking a calamitous own goal from Naby Sarr in the fifth minute.
Ben Purrington levelled before half-time thanks to Lyle Taylor’s smart assist, and just when the clash looked headed for extra time, up popped Bauer with the winner.
It was the cruellest of ways for Sunderland to be consigned to a second year in England’s third tier, but in truth, the Wearsiders could hardly argue with the result.