Facing the league's bottom side Dalian Aerbin, Evergrande were made to work for their win at Tianhe Stadium.

Aerbin were level seven minutes into the second half after Yin Lu's goal cancelled out Muriqui's 41st-minute effort but Cleo's penalty, eight minutes after the hour mark proved decisive.

Dalian's other club, Shide, moved a point clear of danger following their 4-1thrashing of Tianjin Teda.

Shide had James Chamaga to thank as the Zambian striker netted a hat-trick and helped end a winless streak spanning five games.

An injury-time equaliser from Liaoning Whowin's Yang Xu denied Shanghai Shenhua their third win of the campaign.

Shenhua's Qui Tianyi struck on 68 minutes before Yang Xu broke the visitors' hearts.

Five of the previous seven matches between the two sides have now ended all-square.

In Sunday's other match, 11th-placed Henan Jianye held fourth-placed Beijing Guoan to a 2-2 draw in Zhengzhou.

Lu Feng scored twice for Jianye while Zhang Xizhe and Reinaldo found the back of the net for Guoan.