The Highlanders have consigned the Chiefs to a fifth straight Super Rugby Aotearoa loss, completing a stunning 33-31 comeback at Hamilton's FMG Stadium.
Trailing 31-7 three minutes into the second half, the Highlanders scored the final four tries to score their second win of the season and leave the Chiefs winless.
The game was decided by the final kick of the game, when Mitch Hunt converted Sio Tomkinson's five-pointer from close to the posts with time up on the clock.
The match had started so well for the Chiefs, as they came storming out of the blocks, scoring the first 24 points of the match through tries from Lachlan Boshier, Anton Lienert-Brown and Bradley Slater.
But the Highlanders slowly brought themselves into the game, opening their account through impressive loose forward Marino Mikaele Tu'u, who crashed over moments, after Ash Dixon went close off the back of a rolling maul.
Trailing 24-7 at halftime, the Highlanders probably felt they needed to score first to have any chance of victory, but started poorly, allowing Slater to cross for his second try of the clash.
But that was it for the Chiefs, as the Highlanders expanded their attacking game and ran the Chiefs players ragged.
Hunt's 40-metre run to complete a slick backline move gave the Highlanders some help and when Smith dotted down with 25 minutes to play, it was game on.
The Chiefs held on and almost had a game-sealing try through Damian McKenzie, but the television match official (TMO) ruled an accidental offside in the build-up.
With time ticking down, replacement winger Jona Nareki ghosted through a tired Chiefs defence to bolt 50 metres and bring the Highlanders within five points of an unlikely win.
The Chiefs looked to have secured victory, after Boshier won a penalty with a minute remaining, but the Chiefs muffed the resulting lineout and conceded a penalty themselves, gifting the Highlanders one last chance.
The resulting maul was combated well by the Chiefs pack, but Aaron Smith saw an opportunity to run and slipped a pass to Tomkinson, who dived over to level the scores.
Hunt completed the comeback with the easy conversion to the elation of his Highlanders teammates.
The result leaves the Chiefs firmly planted at the bottom of the ladder with four points from five games. The Highlanders move within three points of the second-placed Blues, two points behind the Hurricanes in fourth.
Next week, the Highlanders have the week off, while the Chiefs visit Eden Park to take on the wounded Blues, smarting from back-to-back losses.
Highlanders 33 (Tomkinson, Nareki, Smith, Hunt, Tu'u tries, Hunt 4 conversions)
Chiefs 31 (Slater 2, Boshier, Lienert-Brown tries, McKenzie 4 conversions, penalty)
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