Cape Town - Despite scoring first through Brian Onyango, Maritzburg United went down 3-2 to Cape Town City during their Absa Premiership tie at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday night.
Following the defeat, Ernst Middendorp's side now remain placed at the eighth spot from 10 matches thus far.
On the other side, three strikes courtesy of Lehlohonolo Majoro, Sibusiso Masina and Lebogang Manyama elevated City to the top spot on the log table.
Onyango netted for the visitors as early as the fifth minute as he slotted home a cross through Evans Rusike from the right flank, beating goalkeeper Samora Motloung.
Eric Tinkler's men were rewarded in the 20th minute when the Team of Choice failed to clear the danger in their box, allowing the hosts to find an easy tap in through Majoro after a scramble in the box.
As they probed for their second goal, Devon Saal came close to finding the back of the net, but failed to connect with the ball following a pin point cross from Lebohang Maboe in the 30th minute.
Both camps were locked at 1-1 at the interval.
Upon their return, Masina was a recipient of a well delivered cross by Given Mashikinya on the left flank, the 24-year-old coolly finished it inside the box, making it 2-1.
However in the 54th minute, Rusike's fine free kick from the edge of the box made it 2-2 as he smashed a powerful shot to beat Motloung on the roof of the net.
With 14 minutes remaining on the clock, Manyama made it 3-2 when he easily converted a sweet cross by Aubrey Ngoma from the left of the park.
In the end, City were reduced to 10-men when Robyn Johannes was booked for the second time as they held on to the lead.
The Mother City outfit now occupy the top of the log with 20 points, but will wait to see the outcome of the match between Bidvest Wits and Highlands Park on Wednesday night.