Benjani Mwaruwari struck again as Portsmouth saw off Fulham at Craven Cottage to grab their fourth win in a row.
The Zimbabwean - who hit a hat-trick in last week's 7-4 record romp against Reading but was previously best known for his struggles in front of goal - scored his sixth of the season four minutes after half-time, just when it seemed Pompey were going to have a rare off day.
And before Fulham could get their breath back they were two down as full-back Hermann Hreidarsson overlapped brilliantly down the left, stayed just onside and pounced on Niko Kranjcar's pass to force the ball past Kasey Keller.
Portsmouth's two-minute double was as dramatic as it was unexpected because Fulham had taken charge in the first half and were threatening a rare win.
But, despite a triple substitution by manager Lawrie Sanchez for the last half-hour, the Cottagers had no answer to Pompey's sucker punches.
Benjani's shot clipped the foot of centre-back Carlos Bocanegra to find the net.
Sean Davis, Pompey's midfield anchor, took great delight in laying on the chance against the club with whom he made his league debut 11 years ago.
Sanchez tried to get in on the old pals' act by sending on former Pompey pair Alexei Smertin and Diomansy Kamara, but he was left still looking for only his second league win of the season - after successive 3-3 home draws with Tottenham and Manchester City.
With Clint Dempsey leading the attack in swashbuckling style and Simon Davies and Hameur Bouazza providing pace on the wings, Fulham were clearly the better side in the first half.
Steve Davis and Smertin bossed the central midfield despite the muscular presence of former Fulham giant Papa Bouba Diop and Sulley Muntari.
And it was down to David James yet again to ensure Pompey were still on terms at half-time.
James had to make his first fine save within three minutes when Dempsey let fly from nearly 30 yards, diving full-stretch to tip the ball away for a corner at his right-hand post.
Sylvain Distin was a rock in Pompey's defence but his attempt to clear spun off a Fulham player and gave David Healy the chance of an overhead shot from outside the area which James saved comfortably.
And it was slack defending by Fulham which allowed Muntari a half-chance at the other end, forcing keeper Keller to go down and turn the ball away for a corner.
When the set-piece was only half cleared to Sol Campbell the Pompey skipper laid on a pass for Muntari who this time drove low into Keller's arms.
But with Benjani sometimes a isolated figure up front - Kanu again missing through a knee injury - Fulham began to take a grip.
And when Davies' pass put Healy in acres of space inside the Pompey area, James had to show his athleticism again to keep out the Irishman's cross-shot.
A frustrated Diop was booked for dissent against his former team, kicking the ball away after being pulled up for a foul, but Fulham, whose only previous win in the league this season came against Bolton in August, were sharp and more penetrative.
Dempsey left Pompey's defenders standing with a header that skimmed just wide from Chris Baird's cross, and James kept out a first-time Healy drive after Bouazza burst through on the left to provide the cross.
But after the double strike from Benjani and Hreidarsson Fulham were dead and buried.
