The bit that I think is wrong is...
...and we can't act on the thrust or lift forces...
The point is that you cannot change either of these individually. Assuming you have ventured beyond all safety margins and are literally on the cusp then any adjustment of thrust or any pitch change to affect lift will, if done alone, result in loss of control.
However, pitching down to decrease lift while decreasing thrust to stop the speed from increasing will work.
Of course this is all on a knife edge and has to be balanced perfectly. But then maintaining straight and level while waiting for some of the weight to burn off would be equally knife edge!
PS; There is an assumption here that we still have some pitch authority. Generally the tail plane operates at a lower angle of attack than the wings and should be able to oblige.