Tafadzwa Jaravani and Lot Chiunga scored either side of a Keith Murera effort as Black Rhinos edged Ngezi Platinum 2-1 in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League on Sunday.
Ngezi's defeat saw them emerge from matchday 17 some six points behind title rivals FC Platinum, who had needed a last-gasp Gift Mbweti strike to see off Highlanders 1-0 at Mandava Stadium just 24 hours earlier.
Ngezi are barely recognisable from the team that went 14 matches unbeaten to become overwhelming favourites for a maiden championship.
Sunday's result represented a third consecutive loss for the miners, who must now welcome the two-week mid-season break as an opportunity to bring the ship back on course.
The clash against Black Rhinos seemed headed for a goalless draw only to explode in the final quarter as Jaravani put Rhinos ahead on 75 minutes.
Murera restored parity three minutes later but Rhinos were not done yet as veteran striker Chiunga found the winner almost immediately.
Murera struck the woodwork in the dying minutes, but there was no stopping eighth-placed Chipembere from registering a sixth win of the campaign.
Harare giants CAPS United made it four wins from five after overcoming Chapungu United 2-0 at Ascot Stadium.
CAPS have struggled for consistency this term but things could be finally falling into place for coach Lloyd Chitembwe, who saw Simba Nhivi and Brian Muzondiwa score inside 10 first-half minutes to deflate the home side.
The Harare giants ended the match with 10 men after Justice Jangano was red-carded for deliberate handball just five minutes after the breather.
Troubled Dynamos gave their fans some respite with a 2-1 win over Nichrut to rise into tenth in the standings.
Blessing Moyo and Kuda Kumwala scored inside two first-half minutes to put Dynamos firmly on course for a second consecutive win, with Andrew Kachwachwa's late strike proving mere consolation for relegation-threatened Nichrut.
Elsewhere, young striker Obriel Chirinda's 72nd-minute strike was enough to hand Chicken Inn a vital 1-0 win at Triangle. The victory lifted the 2015 champions into third place, 14 points behind log leaders Platinum.
There was also a morale-boosting performance from Harare City, who ended a three-match winless run with a 3-0 thumping of Yadah FC.
Teenage star Tatenda Tumba found the opener on 71 minutes before Takudzwa Chimwemwe and Wilfred Muvirimi further breached the Yadah rearguard to add some gloss to the scoreline.
It is Platinum, however, who head into the mid-season break with much to celebrate after a six-match winning streak saw them dethrone Ngezi from the top of the standings before opening up a six-point lead.
The champions struggled for their usual fluidity against Highlanders, but they still showed remarkable character as Mbweti struck late on to keep up the momentum.