With Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba among the Shanghai side, the visitors were always a chance to cause problems for Marcello Lippi's table-toppers.

And that is exactly what they did at the Tianhe Stadium, coming from behind twice to take a point.

Argentine Dario Conca gave the hosts a 41st minute lead and although Song Boxuan produced a response for Shanghai Shenhua just before the hour mark, Muriqui's goal with 11 minutes to play looked to have sealed the contest.

It was the Brazilian's 15th goal of the season in all competitions and his sixth in as many games.

Shanghai Shenhua had other ideas though and Colombian Giovanni Moreno netted his first for the club since crossing from Argentine outfit Racing Club last month to give the strugglers a much-needed point.

Third-placed Guizhou Renhe were stunned by Henan Jianye, losing 3-1 in Zhengzhou after Leandro Netto bagged a brace for the victors.

Henan Jianye remain on the foot of the table despite their victory but Guizhou's defeat saw them slip 10 points behind Guangzhou Evergrande.

Guangzhou R&F also struggled, with the fourth-placed side needing two goals in the final 30 minutes to salvage a point in a 2-2 stalemate against Hangzhou.

In other matches, Yu Hanchao and Yang Xu scored doubles in Liaoning Whowin's 5-3 success against Dalian Aerbin, Tianjin Teda toppled Beijing Guoan 2-1 and Shandong Luneng and Qingdao Jonoon played out a 1-1 draw.