The Chiefs have moved into Super Rugby Pacific's top four, defeating the Reds 27-25 in a thrilling encounter at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.
Leading 27-18 inside the final minutes, the Chiefs cause was hurt by a red card to replacement forward Samipeni Finau, forcing them to finish with 14 men.
A try shortly after to centre Hunter Paisami brought the Reds back to within two points, before the Chiefs turned the ball over to seal victory.
But even missing the leadership of co-captains and All Blacks Sam Cane - in New Zealand for the birth of his child - and injured Brad Weber, the Chiefs held on to seal victory, and importantly keep pace with the Blues, Brumbies and Crusaders ahead of them on the ladder.
In an error-ridden start from both sides, first-fives Lawson Creighton and Bryn Gatland traded penalties, before the Reds scored the first try of the night in somewhat controversial fashion.
As a charge at the tryline from Fraser McReight stopped short, Reds No.8 Harry Wilson appeared to pick and go after the whistle, but an on-field no-try decision was overturned, with Wilson judged to have grounded the ball amid the swarm of bodies from either side.
Down 13-6, the Chiefs hit back with the final play of a first half that stretched into seven minutes of additional time.
A scrum on the Reds line was wheeled away, freeing No.8 Pita Gus Sowakula to pop a simple pass to halfback Cortez Ratima, who scored in the left corner, before a flawless conversion from Gatland sent the sides into halftime level at 13-all.
After scoring with the final play of the first half, the Chiefs carried their momentum into the second spell. Sustained pressure saw hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho cross over for their second try of the night, landing a double blow, as Wilson was shown a yellow card for repeated infringements.
But the Chiefs weren't able to make the most of their numerical advantage, as the Reds managed to strike back, before being restored to 15.
Captain Tate McDermott nearly singlehandedly brought the Reds back into the contest, as an attempted clearance from Chase Tiatia deflected straight into the halfback's hands.
McDermott then broke down the right, before passing perfectly to winger Josh Flook, who scored in the corner to bring the scores to 20-18.
The Reds did themselves no favours and were reduced to 14 for a second time, when fullback Jock Campbell was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on.
After failing to make the most of an advantage the first time, the Chiefs didn't need a second invitation, as Sowakula scored to put them in front by more than a converted try.
The Chiefs would desperately need their lead, when they were forced to play the final minutes short, after Finau's red card for a shoulder to the head of McReight.
Ultimately, the Reds were left with too much to do, as the reigning Super Rugby AU champions fell short by just two points and surrendered fourth place on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder to the Chiefs.
The win moves the Chiefs a point clear of the Reds, just one point off the third-placed Crusaders in third after one game more.
Victory greatly boosts the Chiefs' hopes of a top-four finish, which would give them a home quarter-final against the fifth-placed finishers, the spot currently held by the Reds.
Chiefs 27 (Ratima, Taukei'aho, Sowakula tries; Gatland 3 conversions & 2 penalties) Reds 25 (Wilson, Flook, Paisami tries; Creighton 2 conversions & 2 penalties)
