One point separates the top three in the Veikkausliiga after Saturday's matches, which saw KuPS sail past Gnistan and SJK stay in contention by beating Inter Turku. At the bottom, KTP earned a first win in eight to keep their survival dream alive.
With leaders Ilves facing a tough trip to HJK tomorrow, Inter Turku had the chance to regain the lead they surrendered in midweek when they were held by the Helsinki club.
But that would be no easy feat on the road against SJK, who were looking to move within six points of the leaders and keep the five-way title fight alive. And so it proved just eight minutes in, when Alenis Vargas' firm strike was deflected past the goalkeeper by Elias Mastokangas.
With 10 minutes to play before the break, things got worse for FC Inter when Murilo set up Armaan Wilson to put SJK 2-0 up.
Jussi Niska pulled a goal back 11 minutes after the restart, but despite having over half an hour to find a leveller, the Turku side could not find a way through, and have now won just two of their last six matches. SJK stay fifth despite a first win in four.
That result meant KuPS could draw level with Inter on 50 points and move to within one of the Tampere side if they could beat Gnistan, who are all but certain to finish sixth in this season's Championship Group.
The current title holders made light work of their trip to Helsinki, going a goal up 12 minutes in when Doni Arifi took aim from the edge of the area and drilled the ball into the bottom corner, before Mohamed Toure made it 2-0 soon after, having been teed up by Jerry Voutilainen.
Voutilainen was the provider for number three after the break, though there was still plenty for Petteri Pennanen to do before effortlessly curling the ball low past the goalkeeper.
That was in the 72nd minute, and four minutes later it was 4-0, as Piotr Parzyszek scored for the third league game in a row.
Gnistan remain on 28 points having lost all their Championship Group matches so far, while the Kuopio side have picked up two wins on the bounce.
In the Relegation Group on Friday night, a goal from Maissa Fall on 10 minutes was enough for VPS to stay seventh - the best of the rest - with their survival already confirmed.
Fall met Alfie Cicale's corner with a near-post header a the Vaasa side recorded a 1-0 win over Haka, who are now 12 matches without a win.
They stay in 11th - the Relegation Playoff place - on 17 points, but are now only ahead of last-placed KTP on goal difference after they beat AC Oulu 2-0 away from home this afternoon.
Haka's loss had confirmed Oulu's survival, thus the hosts were there for KTP's taking, and they duly took advantage early in the second half when Rangel broke the deadlock from the penalty spot.
15 minutes from time, KTP secured all three points when Aaro Toivonen found Joni Makela, ending the visitors' seven-match losing streak.
That means, with two rounds of Relegation Group matches to play, that it is a direct battle between Haka and KTP to decide who will go down automatically and who will have a chance to save themselves in the Relegation Playoff.