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Otago United's nemesis struck again on Saturday when striker Jason Hayne clinched a 2-0 win for Manawatu in the New Zealand Football Championship match in Palmerston North.
Hayne sank Otago 3-2 in November with an 85th-minute strike, and the Golden Boot frontrunner rammed in his eighth goal of the season after 89min on Saturday to clinch maximum points for Manawatu.
The loss leaves Otago bottom of the NZFC with five matches to go, and a red card in the final moments means captain Colin Falvey will miss Sunday's home game against third-placed Waikato.
Falvey was sent off for a reportedly fierce challenge on Isaak Duker, but there may have been an escalating sequence as Scott Robinson was yellow carded for a rough tackle on young substitute Regan Coldicott, then Hayne hacked Falvey and earned a yellow card.
In earlier exchanges, Blair Scoullar and Adam Cowan crossed swords, and Stu Kelly battled in midfield with former All White Raf de Gregorio.
Both Scoullar and Kelly were also issued with cautions.
Yet in perfect conditions in Palmerston North, Otago started the better against a Manawatu side recently reinforced by Solomon Island internationals Alick Maemae and Nelson Sale.
But the Otago curse struck again after 21min when careless defensive play set up Manawatu to take the lead.
Otago comfortably cut out a long pass, but as the ball was played out of defence, South American midfield striker Gustavo Saralegui intercepted and made no mistake to put Manawatu in front.
Aaron Burgess went close when he hit a freekick marginally high, but on the day, Otago's accuracy in shots, freekick and corners were not up to standard.
Even Tom Jackson's booming throw-ins were capably handled by the tall Manawatu defence, and former Dunedin keeper Chris Marsh expertly handled anything that went his way.
Otago's next opponent, Waikato, posted a clear 3-1 win over Canterbury, which is one point ahead of Otago.
Now that Otago's chances of making the top four play-offs are remote, it seems that getting off the bottom and overtaking Canterbury will be the main target.