Glentoran raided North Belfast for the second time in a week to keep the Big Two giants hot on the heels of Linfield at the league summit.
Four days after hitting back to secure a 2-1 win over Cliftonville at Solitude, Mick McDermott’s men repeated the trick at Seaview.
Crusaders, who lost January signing Jude Winchester to a 55th minute red card, had led in the 12th minute when Josh Robinson headed home from a Ben Kennedy corner.
But it was all level at the start of the second half when Conor McMenamin raced inside the area to rifle an unstoppable shot past Jonny Tuffey.
The winner came just after the hour mark, Robbie McDaid sending the large travelling support into raptures when he rose to head an inviting McMenamin cross into the bottom corner.
Victory eases the Glens, who have now lost just one of their last 17 league games, level on points with leaders Linfield who stay top of the Danske Bank Premiership on goal difference.
With brothers Jay and Rory Donnelly absent following the death of their mother, January window signing Michael O’Connor was handed his first start in a Glens shirt.
But it was the Crues who got off to a flier when Robinson headed home his second goal of the season from a Kennedy corner inside a crowded six yard box.
The home side had a strong case for a penalty turned away soon after when the lively Kennedy appeared to be caught by Paddy McClean inside the area.
Glens keeper Aaron McCarey also denied the Crues a second when he palmed a thumping Daniel Larmour header over the bar.
The Glens were level three minutes into the second period.
It came from the left boot of McMenamin who gave Crues keeper Tuffey no chance with a vicious finish after outwitting both Billy Joe Burns and Robinson inside the area.
Remarkably, it was the first time in seven games in all competitions - or over 500 minutes of action - that the Crues had conceded a goal.
It got worse for the Shore Road men in the 55th minute when Winchester, making his first start for the club, was dismissed for a high challenge on Joe Crowe.
Enough to warrant a sending off? The Crues thought not, but referee Robinson, the man who mattered, reached for his red card.
The Glens were ahead 10 minutes later when McDaid celebrated his seventh goal of the season, rising to direct a close range header past Tuffey to spark manic celebrations in the packed away end.
Despite being down to 10-men, Paul Heatley should have equalised for the Crues in the latter stages.
The winger latched onto a flick-on eight yards out, but his first-time volley cannoned back off McCarey with only the keeper to beat.
With time running out and with frustrations boiling over, Crusaders boss Stephen Baxter was red carded in the 86th minute.
There was still enough time for a Sean Murray effort to be cleared off the line by Jordan Forsythe as the visitors chased a third.
In the end, they didn't need it.
Another crucial win for Glentoran in North Belfast.
