Waitakere United have beaten Auckland City 3-1 away at Kiwitea Street while Canterbury United confirmed their national football Premiership title credentials with a 4-2 win at Team Wellington.
A hat-trick by Canterbury striker Russell Kamo fired his team to their first-ever away victory in the capital.
Waitakere remain top with maximum points from three games and gained a psychological edge ahead of next week's repeat showdown with Auckland in the OFC Champions League.
Elsewhere, 1-0 away victories over Otago United and YoungHeart Manawatu helped lift Waikato FC and Hawke's Bay United into fourth and fifth place in the playoff race respectively.
Otago and Manawatu share eighth place.
