Orlando Pirates did arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs a huge favour by winning 1-0 at Mamelodi Sundowns on Tuesday in the South African Premiership.
Pretoria-based Sundowns started one of the high-profile fixtures of the domestic league season nine points adrift of leaders and defending champions Chiefs.
And the loss after Khethokwakhe Masuku scored a soft 37th-minute goal at Loftus Versfeld stadium seriously dented hopes of overtaking the pacesetters.
Sundowns lacked injured captain Alje Schut, Katlego Mashego and Cuthbert Malajila and suspended Khama Billiat and the quartet was sorely missed.
There was little of the desire to succeed and tactical smartness that earned an unflattering 1-0 victory over Pirates in Soweto this month.
The blunt home attack seldom troubled Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa and it came as little surprise when the visitors nudged ahead.
Mozambican Helder Pelembe crossed low and half-asleep Sundowns left-back Mzikayise Mashaba allowed Masuku to push past and tap the ball home.
Pelembe failed to double the lead when one-on-one with veteran Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene midway through the second half.
Ghana 2014 World Cup hopeful Rashid Sumaila came closest to levelling three minutes from time with his header cleared off the line by Thandani Ntshumayelo.
"We were excellent in the first half and brilliant in the second half," boasted Pirates caretaker coach and 1996 Africa Cup of Nations winner Eric Tinkler.
"I was particularly impressed with the tactical discipline of my boys and victory is a great morale boost after some disappointing results."
Sundowns and former South Africa coach Pitso Mosimane blamed an "elementary error" for the failure at home.
"When Pirates crossed the ball for the winner it was a three-against-one situation in our favour yet they scored. Mzikayise must learn to watch opponents as well as the ball."
Skipper Sibusiso Vilakazi doubled his league goal tally for the season to six by scoring a hat-trick as 10-man Wits University edged SuperSport United 3-2 in a Johannesburg thriller.
SuperSport led and trailed by two goals before fighting back and wasting a stoppage-time chance to equalise when Senegalese Mame Niang had a penalty saved.
Zimbabwean defender Onismor Bhasera got a straight red card midway through the first half for a crude tackle.
