Former Premier League stars Tim Cahill and Demba Ba were on target for Shanghai Shenua as they cruised to a 3-1 triumph over Chinese Super League leaders Beijing Guoan.
Wang Yun opened the scoring for the hosts at Hongkou Stadium after 40 minutes, before ex-Everton midfielder Cahill doubled their lead after 58 minutes and ex-Newcastle and Chelsea forward Ba made it 3-0 shortly after.
Dejan Damjanovic pulled one back for the visitors, who remain top despite the defeat, after 72 minutes but Shanghai Shenua had already done enough to clinch a win that takes them up to sixth.
Second-placed Guangzhou Evergrande were unable to take full advantage of Beijing Guoan's slip-up as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Henan Jianye, but they are now just a point behind the leaders.
Olivio Ivo nudged visitors Henan Jianye into an early lead after 12 minutes, before Long Zheng equalised nine minutes later.
Shanghai Shenxin remain rock bottom after their hopes of a first win in four were cruelly dashed - they blew a 2-0 lead to draw at Shandong Luneng.
Michael Barrantes and Chukwu Chima both found the net in the first seven minutes, but Shandong were unable to hold on as Junior Urso and Aloisio levelled things up after the interval.
Hangzhou Greentown's slide down the table continued as they limped to 3-1 defeat to Chongqing Lifan, who were 3-0 up at the break courtesy of strikes from Emmanuel Gigliotti, Liu Yu and Fernandinho.
Anselmo Ramon's spot-kick pulled one back for Hangzhou in the 57th minute but they are now only six points above second-bottom Guizhou Renhe, having played a game more.
But Liaoning are still a point and a place worse off after they went down 2-1 at Changchun Yatai, with Marcelo Martins winning the game in the 74th minute - six minutes after Chaosheng Yang cancelled out Moussa Maazou's opener.
Jacob Mulenga gave Jiangsu Shuntian victory by the same scoreline over Shijiazhuang Ever Bright, his 68th-minute strike putting his side back in front after Ke Sun (60) had equalised following Chunyu Li's 44th-minute breakthrough.
Source: PA
