Supersport United ended Kaizer Chiefs' unbeaten run after 19 games with a 2-0 win over Amakhosi at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane last night, throwing open the championship chase.
New Zealand import Jeremy Brockie scored the opening goal and Dove Wome added the second for the Pretoria side.
Chiefs are now only 10 points ahead of nearest challengers Bidvest Wits, having had five points shaven off the lead they enjoyed last week when the league restarted after the Africa Cup of Nations break.
It was Brockie's second goal in as many games for his new club. He took advantage of a defensive slip by Mulomowandau Mathoho to open the scoring just three minutes into the second half.
A high ball went over the head of the giant defender to allow Brockie - signed in the January transfer window - to squeeze home a header at the back post.
Chiefs had several good chances to equalise but they failed to find the net. They were caught in stoppage time when Thuso Phala set up Wome for the second goal.
Before that Bernard Parker had rattled the upright and Tefu Mashamaite saw his header go agonisingly wide.
Chiefs drew at Bloemfontein Celtic and only beat Botswana's Township Rollers with a last-gasp goal in an African Champions League match on Saturday.
Without Reneilwe Letsholonyane, whose father died on Monday, Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter switched his formation to three centrebacks and two high-flying wingbacks.
United countered by playing two strikers and two wingers and sought to push Chiefs back.
Marc Strydom reports that Wits defender Kees Kwakman's brace earned the Clever Boys a clinical 2-0 Absa Premiership victory over Moroka Swallows at Dobsonville Stadium, Soweto, last night.
Dutch centreback Kwakman scored from volleys in the 26th and 53rd minutes.
United coach Gavin Hunt had Papy Faty, back from his long-term knee injury, in his midfield for his second start of the season.
This is Wits' second straight win since the the league resumed after the Afcon break.
Ageing Swallows - clearly in need of restructuring - crashed to their third defeat.
Wits were dominant enough in the first half to be in the lead. The Students showed their intent when Sameehg Doutie volleyed a foot-and-a-half over early on.
They had a far better chance when Jabulani Shongwe fed Fikru Tefera at the near post from space on the left. The Ethiopian striker forced a point-blank save from goalkeeper Greg Etafia.
The Clever Boys took the lead when Sibusiso Vilakazi flicked on Doutie's corner kick, and Kwakman side-footed in at the far post.
A rare chance fell to Swallows' Felix Obada just before the break, but he shot into defender Onismor Bhasera.
Kwakman made it 2-0 just after the break with a classy close-range volley to Doutie's cross from the left. Tefera blasted over from 9m minutes later.
Swallows coach Fani Madida attempted to inject urgency to the side by bringing on Luyolo Nomandela and Siyabonga Nomvete.
The pair did set up a good chance in the 70th minute, with Nomandela feeding Nomvete in to force a save from Moeneeb Josephs.
Larry Cohen's free header from Lantshane Phalane's freekick from deep was also foot over.
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