The Chiefs suffered their second loss of the season when the Crusaders beat them 19- 26 in Hamilton in Round five of the Super 14.
The Crusaders deserved their victory as they were more clinical in attack and outscored the Chiefs by two tries to two.
Going into the match the Chiefs were unbeaten after three matches away from home but have now lost both of their home matches.
Most of the points in the match were scored in the first half including both team's tries but rain came down at half time and in the second half both teams could only add a penalty a piece.
Dan Carter became the second-highest points scorer in Super rugby in the match after kicking 16 points.
With the fifth of his six successful kicks at goal, Carter surpassed former Crusaders flyhalf Andrew Mehrtens' mark of 990 points.
By the end of the game, Carter had taken his tally in 74 Super matches to 996 points, closing on Australian Stirling Mortlock's record of 1,005.
Halfback Kahn Fotuali'i scored two tries for teh Crusaders who improved their record to 4 wins and one loss after five rounds.
The first half was frantically paced, a succession of attacks and counter attacks after which the Crusaders led 23-16, but the second half produced only a further penalty to each team.
"It's never easy up here," Crusaders and All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said.
"It felt like there was a fair bit of running involved and I'm proud of the way we stuck at it."
The match began with a rapid exchange of penalties between Carter and Stephen Donald.
Donald landed penalties in the first and third minutes to give the Chiefs an early 6-0 lead and Carter replied with the first of his goals in the fifth minute to trim the lead to 6-3.
Fotuali'i's first try after eight minutes gave the Crusaders a 10-6 advantage and it never gave up the lead.
Center Richard Kahui kept the Chiefs in the match with a try in the 33rd minute after strong leadup work by No.8 Colin Burke and Donald.
The second half became more physical and more tactical, dominated by the Crusaders pack and its territorial kicking.
Carter finished with six goals from eight attempts and Donald with five from six for 14 points.
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