Shanghai Port edged Beijing Guoan 3-2 on the road on Sunday, coming out on top in a key battle in the race for the Chinese Super League (CSL) title. The victory kept the two-time defending champions behind leaders Chengdu Rongcheng on goal difference.

Guoan suffered a third straight loss to fall six points adrift of the top two teams.

Brazilian forward Leonardo put Port ahead 1-0 seven minutes into the match, taking a low cross from Li Shuai in front of the goal and firing into the bottom-left corner.

Gabrielzinho thought he had doubled the visiting side's advantage in the 36th minute, but the effort was disallowed because he was offside when he received the ball.

One minute later, Fabio Abreu appeared to level the score for Beijing, but that attempt was chalked off due to a handball. The Angolan striker then earned a penalty kick for the hosts in the final minute of first-half stoppage time, converting with ease to make it 1-1 at the break.

Shanghai regained the lead six minutes after the restart. With Guoan's defense failing to clear Wang Shenchao's cross, Leonardo quickly took possession and tapped in from close range. The referee initially ruled it offside, but then allowed the goal after checking with VAR (Video Assistant Referee).

In the 79th minute, Gabrielzinho outraced the defense down the left wing and into the box, before setting up Leonardo for a wide open goal that extended Port's edge to 3-1.

Although Zhang Xizhe pulled one back for Beijing seven minutes later, the home side failed to come all the way back, conceding their fifth defeat of the season.

In other action, leaders Chengdu Rongcheng were held to a 1-1 draw at Shanghai Shenhua, who remain in third place, three points behind city rivals Port. Tianjin Jinmen Tiger defeated Shenzhen 1-0 at home, rising to sixth in the CSL table.