Kaizer Chiefs survived the second-half dismissal of Glody Lilepo to beat AmaZulu 1-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
Lilepo fired Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze's side in front on 68 minutes, only to be sent off seconds later for removing his shirt as he celebrated his fifth league goal of the season.
The third-placed Glamour Boys opened up a 10-point gap to Usuthu, who could still lose out to Sekhukhune United in the battle for fourth position with just one fixture remaining this term.
Usuthu were unbeaten in their last three games, the last two of which ended in draws with Golden Arrows (1-1) and Orbit College (0-0), while Amakhosi went in search of back-to-back victories after they beat Sekhukhune United 2-0 on May 10 to arrest a four-match winless run.
The hosts only had 28 per cent ball possession in the first half, although they created the better chances and threatened as early as the eighth minute when Sandile Mthethwa tested Brandon Petersen with a header from Riaan Hanamub's cross.
Chiefs only managed to threaten from set-pieces, with Mfundo Vilakazi failing to keep his free-kick down on 13 minutes before Nkosingiphile Ngcobo drew a save out of Olwethu Mzimela in the 37th minute.
Petersen had come to the visitors' rescue 10 minutes earlier with another fine save to deny Arthur Zwane's side the opener as the two teams headed into the break still all-square.
The KZN outfit went close again nine minutes into the second half when Hendrick Ekstein received the ball from Athini Maqokolo and lined up a shot that had to be kept out by Petersen once more.
But the Soweto giants almost broke the deadlock two minutes later as Mzimela pulled off an exquisite save to tip Reeve Frosler's strike over the crossbar.
A comical moment on 68 minutes saw Chiefs hit the front through Lilepo, who played a neat one-two with Vilakazi before beating Mzimela at his near post from an angle on the left.
One side of Soweto celebrates the opener while Orlando Pirates search for a breakthrough ⚽👀
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However, the DR Congo winger then received his marching orders for a second bookable offence, having taken off his shirt in the goal celebration.
Tashreeq Morris had a chance to make it two goals in two games as he let fly from an acute inside the box on 84 minutes, but Mzimela was on hand to make the save.
AmaZulu 0
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Lilepo 68')
AmaZulu: O. Mzimela (R. Ofori 90+1'), K. Allan (T. Mashigo 78'), T. Fielies, S. Mthethwa, N. Radebe, L. Bern (M. Mbanjwa 78'), S. Zikhali, R. Hanamub, A. Maqokola, H. Ekstein (L. Mhlongo 86'), T. Matlhoko (T. Kutumela 86').
Kaizer Chiefs: B. Petersen, R. Frosler, G. Msimango, A. McCarthy, B. Cross (P. Mako 61'), N. Ngcobo (S. Ndlovu 72'), L. Maboe, G. Lilepo, M. Vilakazi (I. Miguel 83'), E. Chislett (P. Mmodi 72'), F. Silva (T. Morris 62').