It was one of those days when everything fell perfectly into place for Beijing Guoan. The slickly oiled machine that is Stanley Menzo's side swarmed all over Cangzhou Mighty Lions, reducing them to submission, feeding off a passionate Workers' Stadium crowd.

By the time Yang Liyu fired the hosts' sixth goal past the overworked goalkeeper Shao Puliang there were still 30 minutes remaining, and it became an excruciating damage-limitation operation for Zhao Junzhe's disoriented players.

Beijing have faltered at the start of the season and lost their customary oomph along the route but, far from feeling the pressure of falling behind in the title race, they reignited their hopes against opponents as subordinate as Cangzhou on a heady night. 

The invitation for Beijing to make merry at home, let go of all their inhibitions and do wonders for their goal difference was accepted lavishly, as the Chinese capital leviathan treated their rapt audience to a dazzling exhibition.

The 6-2 scoreline actually did not reflect Beijing's flair and flamboyance. Absurd but true. Though goals from Oscar Maritu and Georgi Zhukov briefly offered Cangzhou a flicker of hope, the sheer quality of Beijing's attacking play was a striking difference throughout.

Wang Ziming, in particular, was exhilarating, netting twice, the first an audacious and sumptuous finish. Kang Sang-woo, a gifted but seemingly rash winger, excelled in every marauding run that burst with purpose and aggression. The way he stripped a dawdling defender of possession and put the ball on a plate for Gao Tianyi to convert into a gaping goal spoke volumes about his acumen and work-rate.

Chi Zhongguo was not far behind in terms of individual brilliance, and Feng Boxuan has rarely looked so calm and composed on the ball. However, nothing epitomizes Beijing's resurgence more than their skipper Zhang Xizhe, who is the maestro of reading the game, setting the example and tempo for his teammates. 

To their credit, Cangzhou did not take the thrashing lying down and Han Jiaqi had to produce impressive saves to deny Sun Qinhan and Mile Skoric. But even the most optimistic Cangzhou supporter would have accepted a ruthless evisceration of their team was in the offing when Zhang was in such imperious form.

Backed by his natural attacking instincts and perceptive movement, the seasoned playmaker regularly popped up in pockets of space between the lines to open Cangzhou up, and duly marked his 300th appearance for Beijing with a significant goal that settled the nerves after the visitors took a shock early lead.

The 32-year-old's impact was clear for all to see despite him being withdrawn at half-time to protect an ankle blow. Age is just a number for Zhang and there is no doubt that he has plenty more to offer. With the veteran at the helm, there was never any chance of Beijing easing off and relinquishing their unrelenting dominance.

"I'm delighted that we have achieved a huge victory," beamed Zhang, who received a rapturous round of applause after the final whistle. "I never imagined that I'd have the honor of playing 300 games for a single team. I'm grateful for this opportunity and will continue to give it my all in every game, aiming to reach the milestone of 400 games and beyond.

"Today we managed to score all the goals we missed in our previous matches at home. It is my hope that we will be able to continue this momentum and score many goals in each home game, bringing happiness and joy to our fans."

Beijing have certainly come a long way since their muted debut at the club's glitzy new stadium, when the talk was of a worryingly lackluster display and a side that lacked conviction. They have now rediscovered their mojo and gone up a level in recent weeks, though some of this should be put into the context of their opponents' fragile defense.

Nevertheless, it was a result and performance that blew away creeping suspicions about them losing their luster and pizzazz just as the season seemed to slip from their grasp. And it was needed. Seven goals and five draws in their previous eight league games demanded a rapid reaction.

"We've been working hard and fighting tirelessly, and eventually, we've reaped the benefits," observed Beijing coach Menzo afterwards. "I'm thrilled for the team, my fellow players, the club, and our fans. We were able to capitalize on the scoring chances that we missed out on a few weeks ago, and that's just the nature of football.

"We need to savor this victory and use it as a stepping stone for future games. I want to commend all my players, but especially Feng [Boxuan], who has made his first start.

"At the beginning, there were high expectations for our team, but when we were unable to meet them, it led to disappointment among the fans. We haven't fully lived up to their expectations yet, but we're on the right track. We need to keep pushing forward and focus on what we can do and what we must do.

"I'm fully convinced that our players have the potential to become even better."

On this evidence, no one would question this assertion.