Pretoria - Kaizer Chiefs, reduced to 10 men, staged a smash and grab by defeating Absa Premiership champions SuperSport United 2-0 at a steamy Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Sunday.
The victory saw Chiefs move into second place on the log with 14 points - one behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns - while United were left trailing with only seven points from their six matches so far this season.
Chiefs striker Kaizer Motaung junior was shown a straight red card by referee Jacob Frolick in the 56th minute after the hot headed player lost his cool and pushed United goalkeeper Wayne Brown. Motaung had been fouled on the edge of the home team's penalty area.
Despite the handicap of playing a man short, however, Amakhosi closed ranks and showed tremendous courage to take the game to United.
They were rewarded when Knowledge Musona finished off a through ball from Mthokozisi Yende to put them 1-0 ahead three minutes from the interval, and newcomer Siyabulela Songwiqi blasted home the second goal six minutes form time to seal the win.
SuperSport took the initiative in the first half but the title holders fell in the final third and coach Gavin Hunt was pulling his hair out in frustration on the bench as attack after attack fell down.
Chiefs, meanwhile, were content to soak up the pressure and hit their hosts on the counter attack, and the tactic paid dividends for the visitors.
United’s best chance to score came in the 32nd minute when midfielder Brent Carelse did well to volley a clever through ball from teammate Jabu Maluleke. Carelse's first time rocket was diverted for a corner by wide-awake Chiefs keeper Itumeleng Khune.
Carelse had a half chance seven minutes later but again Khune took no chances and thumped the loose ball to safety.
Musona then had a shot - his team's first effort on target in the match - saved by United keeper Wayne Brown in the 40th minute.
A minute later Chiefs midfielder Josta Dladla managed to clear a dangerous shot from Lemessa Fikru over the crossbar.
Then came the goal on the break when Yende threaded the ball to Musona and the Zimbabwean made no mistake to give Chiefs a valuable 1-0 lead by beating Brown with a low hard drive into the far corner.
Maluleke missed a sitter two minutes after the restart when the hard running midfielder shot wide with Khune beaten, and United’s Botswana international striker, Dipsy Selolwane, wasted a chance in the 52nd minute when he collected the ball inside Chiefs penalty area and lost possession.
United, however, continued to push forward and another good save from Khune denied Antony Laffor an equaliser in the 60th minute.
Abia Nale blasted over the crossbar in the 62nd minute when he should have at least hit the target for Chiefs, and Khune pulled off another good save from a long range effort in the 64th minute as United again threatened the vsiting side's goal.
Musona could have wrapped it up in the 77th minute when he twisted and turned inside the United penalty area only to fire over the upright.
However, as it began to pour with rain, Songwiqi outpaced the United defence and beat Brown with a great shot to make it 2-0 six mintes from time.