Rodwell Chinyengetere scored a first-half brace to power FC Platinum to a 2-0 win over Dynamos on match-day 12 in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League on Sunday.
The reigning Player of the Year needed just four minutes to put his name on the scoresheet after taking advantage of some nervy Dynamos defending to slot home from close range and silence Rufaro Stadium.
The Harare giants were looking disorganised at the back, with a 3-5-2 formation deployed by coach Biggie Zuze not making matters any easier.
Former Hwange man Chinyengetere was at it again barely 10 minutes later, this time delivering a curling effort from the edge of the box to put Platinum firmly in control.
What then followed was a lesson in possession football as the visitors weaved patterns on the Rufaro turf to leave Dynamos chasing shadows and accumulating yellow cards all afternoon.
Zuze was forced to introduce Cleopas Kapupurika for midfielder Raphael Manuvire well before halftime, but the former ZPC Kariba man was far from being the only culprit in a generally misfiring Dynamos unit.
Zuze's troops were booed off the pitch by disgruntled fans, who gave a warm applause to the victorious Platinum players instead.
Elsewhere, the expected fireworks did not materialise in Bulawayo as giants CAPS United and Highlanders played out a goalless draw.
Both Madinda Ndlovu for Highlanders and CAPS boss Lloyd Chitembwe had gone into the match fully aware of the perils of defeat following poor results, and the draw would have given the two teams some respite as the season approaches the halfway mark.
Log leaders Ngezi Platinum, meanwhil,e are not missing opportunities these days, with a clinical 4-0 win over visiting Bulawayo City ensuring they emerged from the match-day 12 exertions with their three-point lead over second-placed Platinum intact.
Forward Terrence Dzvukamanja bagged a brace, while Marlon Mushonga and Tichaona Mabvura were also on target as Ngezi made it seven home wins in a row.
Dzvukamanja, who has been moved from the wide midfield positions into a false nine role, now leads the goal charts with seven from 11 matches.
In another match played Saturday, 2015 champions Chicken Inn ceded more ground in the title race after being restricted to a 1-1 draw by visiting Harare City.
Mathew Muchenje converted an 89th-minute penalty to salvage a point for City after Obriel Chirinda had given Chicken Inn an early lead. Joey Antipas' fourth-placed team are now 11 points adrift of Ngezi.
At the other end of the table, bottom club Mutare City could only manage one point after a 1-1 draw at home to fellow newboys Herentals. Brian Chinhoyi put Mutare ahead on the quarter hour, only for Herentals to pull level through a Blessing Maunganidze strike on 27 minutes.
Elsewhere, Chapungu registered only their second win of the season, with veteran defender Tapuwa Kumbuyani netting just before the hour-mark to give the airmen a 1-0 win at Shabanie.
At Gibbo Stadium, Vincent Mhandu scored the only goal of the match as Black Rhinos upset Triangle 1-0 to climb four places up the standings into fourth.