The champion Crusaders must return to the drawingboard, after slumping to a 33-28 home defeat against Queensland Reds - the visitors' first Super Rugby victory at Christchurch this century.
After their convincing win over Melbourne Rebels last week, the defending champions seemed to have turned a corner on their horror start to the season, as they set their sights on a spot in the playoffs.
Their performance against the Reds marked a case of one step forward, two backwards, as they never led, despite drawing level with 24 minutes remaining.
Their cause wasn't helped by the pre-game withdrawal of All Blacks loose forward Ethan Blackadder, after a training mishap, and took another turn for the worse, when captain Scott Barrett lasted just 13 minutes, before succumbing to a back spasm.
With David Havili shifted to first-five at the request of All Blacks management, the experiment produced mixed results, with the experienced utility conceded a crucial goal-line chargedown and try that virtually sealed his teams' fate.
Queensland had their hosts on the ropes in the opening minutes, twice forcing the Crusaders to scramble behind their own goal-line.
In their first visit to Reds territory, Havili found flanker Cullen Grace with a bullet pass that gave him a clear run to the line, but the try was ruled out for a suspected knockon. Former Wales international Leigh Halfpenny added to that frustration, when he muffed his first penalty attempt from a handy position.
After losing Blackadder in the build-up, the Crusaders also had to overcome the early withdrawal of Barrett - two massive losses to a team already plagued by injury this season.
Moments later, hooker Brodie McAlister also succumbed to injury.
The Reds were first to score, when fullback Jock Campbell dashed into the 22 and flanker Fraser McReight capped several phases of pressure with a try.
They had a second, when winger Mac Grealy made ground down the left sideline and the ball shifted right, where opposite winger Tim Ryan outsprinted Sevu Reece to score in the corner.
With halftime looming, the home side finally found the scoreboard, when second-five Dallas McLeod picked up from a close-range maul to dive over for a try. Halfpenny was on target with his conversion and they trailed 14-7 at the break.
From the restart, Queensland padded their advantage, capitalising on another lineout malfunction to lay siege on the tryline, before former All Blacks prop Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen burrowed over for the visitors.
Crusaders centre Levi Aumua and lock Jamie Hannah were both held up over the tryline, before Reece put flanker Corey Kellow - the late replacement for Blackadder - in under the crossbar.
From the kickoff, the home side roared back into the 22, but their momentum ended, when flanker Tom Christie overthrew his winger and into touch.
Next time down the field, Aumua surged to the tryline and lock Quentin Strange was awarded a try, despite daylight between the ball and ground. Chay Fihaki's conversion levelled the scores.
The deadlock was broken, when the Crusaders foiled two attacking lineouts on their own goal-line, but Havili's clearance kick was charged down by No.8 Harry Wilson, who followed through to score.
With 14 minutes remaining, Crusaders coach Rob Penney had seen enough, pulling Aumua, who had run strongly all night, and introducing Rivez Reihana at first receiver, with Havili shifting into the midfield.
Moments later, Queensland virtually sealed their win, when Ryan bounced off his marker to grab a try double, but the champions weren't completely buried yet. Replacement halfback Noah Hotham broke over halfway and found Reece, who had too much gas for the defence.
Down by five with five minutes left, the Crusaders had a sniff, breaking out of their own half from the kickoff, before winger Johnny McNicholl was dragged into touch.
With a last-minute defeat to the Blues still fresh in their minds, the Reds defended 11 phases, gradually forcing the home side back into their own half, before a knockon ended hopes of a miracle comeback.
The result leaves the Crusaders still five points out of the playoffs, although eight-placed Fijian Drua have a chance to draw away against ACT Brumbies later Saturday night.
The titleholders head south next Saturday to face the Highlanders.
Queensland Reds 33 (Ryan 2, McReight, Toomaga-Allen, Wilson tries; Creighton 4 conversions) Crusaders 28 (McLeod, Kellow, Strange, Reece tries; Halfpenny & Fihaki 3 conversions)
