Ngezi Platinum clobbered title rivals Black Rhinos 4-2 at Morris Depot on Thursday to reclaim top spot in the standings as the second-half of the Zimbabwe Premier League gets underway.
A match that had remained goalless at halftime suddenly burst into life after the break with Ngezi scoring three quick goals through defender Patson Jaure (49th minute) Terence Dzukamanja (55) and Walter Mukanga (67).
Dzukamanja then found his second of the match, and sixth of the campaign, on 75 minutes to give the premiership upstarts an unassailable lead.
Rhinos however conjured up a late fight-back but goals from Yamikani Salima and regular scorer Lot Chiunga in the last 10 minutes proved mere consolation.
Ngezi had suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat at Triangle in their last league match and will be relieved to swiftly bounce back to form and regain the initiative in the bruising title race.
Coach Tonderai Ndiraya's troops are now on 34 points, two more than second-placed FC Platinum, who have played a game less.
It was not a rewarding afternoon however for fellow title hopefuls Highlanders, who slipped to a surprise 2-1 defeat to derby rivals Bulawayo City in a match in which all three goal came in a pulsating first-half.
Munyaradzi Mangadze and Ishmael Wadi put Bulawayo City ahead in the first half-hour, and although Bosso managed to pull one back before the break through a brilliant volley from Rahman Kutsanzira, they just could not avoid a fifth defeat of the season.
The result left the Bulawayo giants in eighth place with 28 points, six behind log leaders Ngezi.
Taurai Mangwiro's Triangle made it two wins in a row after accounting for Chapungu 2-0 at Gibbo Stadium.
Former Monomotapa forward Russell Madamombe converted an early penalty for the hosts and new-boy Efinos Kamunda doubled the lead before the break with a firm header.