It can and it does. You go across any sport you care to choose and you’ll find any number of mistakes (even after they are made) not really changing score in a game or a season but change the dynamic and trigger a collapse.
- Botham’s 149 at Headingley in 1981, Australia still only needed to knock off 120 odd runs to win.
- Steve Davis missing easy frame ball yellow to go 9-0 up on Taylor, but still held a handy 8-1 lead.
- Johnny Dooley’s goal from the 21 yard free, Limerick still had a useful lead after dominating from off.
As @balbec said - momentum changers.