Sundowns dropped points at home, and while they have a three-point lead at the top of the table, their destiny is no longer in their own hands.
Chiefs have done their bitter Soweto rivals Pirates a huge favour and, at the same time, continued their push for third place and CAF interclub football next season.
Here are the talking points from the game.
Silva lining
Chiefs took the lead slightly against the run of play on 25 minutes as Flavio da Silva continued his good recent form with a third goal in his last six appearances and 10th of the season in all competitions.
Ronwen Williams’ clearance was picked off in midfield by Pule Mmodi, and Mdu Shabalala fed Silva to score from 12 yards out. The keeper got a hand to it, but the ball trickled over the line.
It was the first real attack of the game from Amakhosi and ended in a goal.
It was the first time that Sundowns had trailed at home under coach Miguel Cardoso in the Betway Premiership.
Feisty challenges
There were two significant injuries in the first half, one for each side.
Chiefs midfielder Siphesihle Ndlovu went high on Sundowns defender Keanu Cupido in a challenge that left the latter with a suspected fractured collarbone.
It was an awful challenge, and the fact that it only resulted in a yellow card is bemusing. It could well have been a red. Ndlovu was perhaps still smarting after being clattered late by Jayden Adams earlier.
Ndlovu then probably should have got a second yellow anyway when his arm to the face of Khuliso Mudau went unpunished.
Adams was then fortunate not to see a straight red for a wild swing at Shabalala that forced the latter from the field on a stretcher. Again, the yellow card looked light for a challenge that was late, reckless and looked full of malice.
In the end, he did get a second yellow for simulation in the second half, and Sundowns played the final 25 minutes with 10 men.
The irony is that Ndlovu will miss the next match for his side anyway due to his accumulation of yellow cards this season.
Lively Leon
Sundowns were level eight minutes into the second half, and it was a familiar name on the scoresheet.
It was a superb ball in from the right by Mudau, and Brayan Leon met the ball with a controlled finish that showed off his excellent technique.
It was an 11th goal in 22 appearances for the Colombian since he joined Sundowns in January and a fourth in his last seven games.
He is a consummate finisher, probably the best in the league by recent evidence, with a calmness in front of goal that others lack.
He had been denied one-on-one by Chiefs keeper Brandon Petersen, though replays show he should have been flagged for offside, so perhaps it was justice done.
Where does this leave us?
Basically, advantage Pirates. Sundowns have a three-point lead over the Buccaneers, having played a game more.
But Pirates’ +41 goal difference is significantly better than Sundowns’ +34. That is worth an extra point.
Basically, if Pirates win their final three matches against relegation-threatened Magesi FC and Orbit College, and Durban City, they will be champions for the first time since 2012.
Sundowns will be finished with their league campaign within a week. They are home to Siwelele on Saturday and away to TS Galaxy next Tuesday. Then they will be done.
Chiefs have a five-point lead over AmaZulu in the battle for third place and CAF Confederation Cup football next season.
They have away games to come against Sekhukhune United and AmaZulu, the teams in fourth and fifth place, and are at home to relegation-threatened Chippa United.