PSV Eindhoven scored twice in the final six minutes to break Willem II hearts and extend their winning Eredivisie run to seven matches.
Robert Braber put Willem in front before the break and they seemed poised to become the first team to beat the league leaders domestically since September.
They survived a PSV penalty, but late strikes from Jurgen Locadia and Memphis Depay, who made amends for missing from the spot, snatched the hosts a 2-1 win.
Philip Cocu's side have been in imperious form either side of the New Year and peppered the visiting goal in the early stages, with Luuk de Jong and Adam Maher going the closest.
However, Willem shocked them by snatching a half-time lead as Stijn Wuytens provided Braber for his third of the season on 27 minutes.
The incessant PSV pressure ceased for 20 minutes of the second half, but they pegged Willem back again and had a golden opportunity to level the scores when Depay was fouled by Kostas Lamprou in the box.
Lamprou got back on his feet to deny the Netherlands international a 12th goal of the season, but this setback would not deter a relentless Eindhoven side from turning the games on its head late on.
The equaliser came when De Jong teed up Locadia to net his fifth goal in as many starts, and reported Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur target Depay struck three minutes later to snatch PSV victory and send them nine points clear of Ajax at the top of the table.
