Defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande smashed Beijing Renhe 6-1 at home on Saturday in the 26th round of the Chinese Super League (CSL).
Guangzhou Evergrande took the lead in just five minutes with a corner kick. Brazilian striker Paulinho headed the ball in the forbidden zone and Zheng Long ran to the ball's passing line and scored with a header.
Zheng Long of Guangzhou Evergrande controls the ball in the CSL match against Beijing Renhe, Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou, south China, October 20, 2018. /VCG Photo
Guangzhou Evergrande enlarged the gap to 2-0 in the 18th minute as Beijing Renhe's Rao Weihui mistakenly kicked the ball into own net.
Yu Hanchao's superb strike from a distance in the 60th minute and Zheng Long's direct free kick helped Guangzhou Evergrande to get two more goals in five minutes in the second half.
Paulinho, whose goal was ruled out for offside in the first half, got Alan Douglas Borges de Cravalho's passing and shot the ball into the net in the 68th minute.
Alan missed a penalty in the 78th minute, but the Brazilian striker scored the goal in three minutes and helped enlarge the gap to six goals.
Alan Douglas, Gao Lin and Paulinho of Guangzhou Evergrande celebrate in the CSL match against Beijing Renhe, Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou, south China, October 20, 2018. /VCG Photo
The referee gave Beijing Renhe a penalty through VAR, but Benjamin Moukandjo's shooting was stopped by the goalkeeper Zeng Cheng. Beijing Renhe got a face-saving score with a corner kick as Liu Jian's header put it to 6-1.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Shandong Luneng beat Tianjin Teda 2-0, Shanghai Greenland tied Tianjin Quanjian 1-1, Guizhou Hengfeng beat Dalian Yifang 3-0 and Chongqing Lifan tied Hebei China Fortune 4-4.
With one point's advantage, Shanghai SIPG overpassed Guangzhou Evergrande to stand at the top of the table. They will visit Jiangsu Suning on Sunday. Besides, Beijing Guoan will face Changchun Yatai and Henan Jianye will meet Guangzhou R&F on the same day.