Shanghai SIPG shrugged off their AFC Champions League disappointment with a comfortable 3-0 win over Beijing Renhe on Saturday night that cut the gap with leaders Beijing Guoan to five points.
Former Chelsea midfielder Oscar put the defending champions 1-0 up with a stunning strike from inside the box shortly before the hour mark. Li Shenglong doubled the advantage ten minutes later when he finished off a neat team move and sent a tight-angled shot past Renhe goalkeeper Zhang Lie.
Elkeson then added a deserved third to secure the three points for SIPG when he lashed the ball home following a brilliant pass from the irrepressible Oscar, who caused all sorts of problems for the Renhe defence throughout the hard-fought contest.
Renhe's latest setback saw them clinch only two wins in their last eight outings and deeply mire in the relegation zone on 11 points, while SIPG's attention now turns to their trip to South Korea on Wednesday to face K-League champions Jeonbuk Motors in the second leg of their AFC Champions League last-16 tie.
Shanghai SIPG's Oscar celebrates after breaking the deadlock during their CSL clash with Beijing Renhe, June 22, 2019. /VCG Photo
Elsewhere, Wei Shihao produced a goal and an assist to keep Guangzhou Evergrande's title hopes alive with a 2-1 home win over Hebei China Fortune.
The night started brightly for the seven-time CSL champions when the in-form Yan Dinghao gave the hosts an eighth-minute lead after a smart cross from Wei on the left. Paulinho missed the chance to establish a two-goal cushion 10 minutes later when the Brazilian star thumped a header against the cross bar.
But the lively Wei, who sported new dreadlocks, made the game safe when the 24-year-old found the net on the hour mark before Hebei reduced the deficit through Marcos Alves in the 68th minute.
Fabio Cannavaro's side, who have won their past seven games in all competitions, now sit third in the table, five points adrift of league leaders Guoan.
Guangzhou Evergrande's Wei Shihao puts in a sparkling display during their CSL clash with Hebei China Fortune, June 22, 2019. /VCG Photo
Meanwhile, a much-changed Shandong Luneng side slipped further off the pace with a costly 2-1 away defeat at Tianjin Teda.
With the reverse fixture of their AFC Champions League last-16 clash with Guangzhou Evergrande ahead on Tuesday, Luneng coach Li Xiaopeng opted to leave out eight first-team players for the game in Tianjin, including Graziano Pelle, Wang Dalei, Hao Junmin and a number of other high profile regulars.
Li's side fell behind to an early Sandro Wagner header as the former Bayern Munich veteran striker scored his first Chinese Super League goal since his arrival in January. Teda then stretched their lead as the 31-year-old Wagner pounced again with an unstoppable volley into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area.
With tempers and tensions fraying, the game took an unexpected turn as Teda were reduced to 10 men when defender Tan Wangsong was sent off ten minutes from time after a rash challenge on Qi Tianyu.
Sandro Wagner celebrates after bagging his first Chinese Super League goal during their CSL clash with Shandong Luneng, June 22, 2019. /VCG Photo
The late twist tipped the game's balance in favor of the visitors, but Luneng also finished with 10 men when ex-Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini was shown a red card after a VAR review of off-the-ball elbow.
That ensured a thrilling final few minutes with Roger Guedes narrowing the deficit for Luneng with a consolation goal in the dying minutes.
Luneng are now 12 points behind Evergrande, languishing in fourth place, while Teda are up to sixth, two points adrift of fifth-placed Jiangsu Suning.