Shanghai SIPG lost to Changchun Yatai 4-2 in the 16th round of the Chinese Super League (CSL) in Changchun on Sunday, missing the chance to become the bellwether on CSL standings.
Guangzhou Evergrande remain topping on the CSL table, although it encountered two constitutive defeats in the league.
SIPG's key players Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Junior and Givanildo Vieira de Souza are still under suspensions, throwing the title favorite into trouble.
Szabolcs Huszti broke the deadlock in the 21st minute through a penalty kick. In the 27th minute, Zhang Li's pass brought chaos in SIPG's penalty area, Jiang Zhe enlarged the home team's advantage by a close-range shot.
Tan Long locked the score to 3-0 in the first half through an incredible volley shot. Although SIPG pulled one back in the 53rd minute, Odion Ighalo rebuilt Yatai's three goals' advantage in four minutes. In the 65th minute, SIPG's bench player Li Shenlong scrambled over goal line, finishing the six goals thriller.
Shandong Luneng narrowed the gap between it and the top three teams on the CSL table by winning Tianjin Teda 2-0 on Sunday. Felix Magath's side will challenge the defending champion Evergrande in the next round.
