Orlando Pirates returned to winning ways with a 2-1 success over Black Leopards in an Absa Premiership clash in Polokwane on Wednesday, a match which will be remembered for a bizarre incident involving striker Thamsanqa Gabuza.
A Thivhavhudzi Ndou own goal and a strike from Vincent Pule saw Pirates claim the points as the home side grabbed a consolation strike from substitute Joseph Mhlongo, who netted a stunning first Premier League goal.
But the game will be remembered for Pirates striker Gabuza storming off the pitch and into the dressing room after having a hand in The Buccaneers' first goal, his frustration with his own jeering fans and a touchline bust-up with coach Micho Sredojevic seeing him lose his cool.
He will now face an uncertain future at the club after leaving his team to play an hour with 10 men, and with fans likely to be even less forgiving of him in the future.
Pirates move into third in the league, two points behind leaders BidVest Wits, but having played a game more.
The Soweto giants used their 25th player in just their fifth league game of the season as Linda Mntambo started as one of just two changes from the 1-0 defeat at Bloemfontein Celtic last time out.
They should have been ahead early on when Pule found himself one-on-one with home goalkeeper Rotshidzwa Muleka, but with time and space to pick his spot, hit it straight at the keeper.
Gabuza shot wildly wide shortly afterwards and then steered his shot off target when he too had only Muleka to beat. But Gabuza had a hand in Pirates' goal in the first half when his cross was put into his own net by Ndou as he tried to clear while off balance.
Gabuza then ran to the side of the pitch and threw his shirt into the crowd, which prompted an angry response from coach Micho Sredojevic.
The former Bafana Bafana striker then made a 'substitution' gesture to the fans and walked down the tunnel to the dressing room.
But the problem for the visitors is that they were unable to substitute Gabuza until he returned to the pitch, as referee Thando Ndzandzeka was waiting with two yellow cards - one for taking off his short and the other for leaving the field of play - which equated to a red card.
A heavily strapped Gabuza, now claiming injury, returned to the dug-out after 50 minutes and was duly handed those cards by Ndzandzeka, leaving Pirates to essentially play with 10 men from the moment of the goal in the 34th minute.
Pirates finally got a goal in open play this season when Pule found a gaping hole in the Leopards defence and collected the pass from Xola Mlambo before slamming his shot past a woefully exposed Muleka on 65 minutes.
It is a first goal for Pule in a Pirates short after a season of some frustration so far for the former BidVest Wits player.
But Leopards were back in it with a stunning strike from Mhlongo, whose initial right-footed shot was blocked, so he smashed a volley into the top-corner from 25-yards with his left.