The Crusaders have overcome a red card to down the Chiefs and book their spot in the Super Rugby Pacific final, with a gutsy performance at Christchurch.
Argentinian flanker Pablo Matera was sent off, after receiving two yellow cards within the first 30 minutes of play, but it only seemed to spur the Crusaders on, as they ran away victors in terrible conditions at Orangetheory Stadium.
The poor weather did little to deter Crusaders first-five Richie Mo'unga, who put on a kicking clinic. He opened the scoring with a penalty goal, before coolly slotting a second, when Quinn Tupaea was yellow-carded.
The Chiefs midfielder was sent from the field for making contact with Matera's head, shortly before the Pumas captain was also yellow-carded for his first offence, after a series of Crusaders penalties.
Cullen Grace finally scored the game's first try, after a brilliant counterattack by the Crusaders laid an attacking platform for the big No.8 to crash over.
The Chiefs hit back almost immediately through tighthead prop Angus Ta'avao, who looked to have slipped over short of the try-line, but regathered his feet to cross the whitewash.
Matera was then shown his second yellow card for leading with his shoulder into Bryn Gatland's head, but that only sparked the Crusaders into action, with Mo'unga again pulling the strings.
The first-five cut through the Chiefs defence, before firing a long cutout pass for an open Grace to stroll over untouched for his second try right before halftime.
The second half saw wave after wave of Chiefs attacks stifled by gutsy Crusaders defence, as the visitors struggled to the finish.
Tupaea had an open Alex Nankivell to his right with the try-line begging, but fired the pass over his head and straight into touch.
The Crusaders were on the receiving end of several penalties, but perfectly picked their opportunities on defence to keep the visitors out ,without losing another player to the bin.
Mo'unga finally made his first mistake of the game in the 70th minute, missing a tough penalty shot at goal.
The Crusaders calmly closed out the fixture with back-to-back penalty wins, after a dominant showing from their pack, to cap off a brave performance from the red-and-blacks.
Crusaders 20 (Grace 2 tries; Mo'unga 2 conversions, 2 penalties) Chiefs 7 (Ta'avao try; Gatland conversion)
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