Dalian Shide compounded the misery for Shandong Luneng as they defeated the defending champions 3-2 to move up to second place in the China Super League.
Shandong, who bowed out of the AFC Champions League on Wednesday after a 3-0 thumping by Korean champions Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, were hoping to restore some pride by defeating their rivals and maintaining their leadership of the Chinese top flight.
But youngster Zhao Xuri scored twice for Dalian including a late winner to give the eight-time champions a measure of revenge against the team that wrested away their league title last season.
Dalian got off to an excellent start, taking a two-goal lead within the first half-hour.
In the 18th minute, striker Zhu Ting was bought down in the Shandong box by defender Jiao Zhe and Bulgarian international forward Zoran Jankovic fired home from the penalty spot to put the home side ahead.
Seven minutes later, Zhao Xuri curled in a free-kick from the left that swerved past a bemused Shandong keeper Li Leilei.
Shandong cut the deficit four minutes before the interval when midfielder Zhou Haibin powered home from 30 meters and on 75 minutes, Dalian defender Zhai Yanpeng inexplicably knocked down Aleksander Zivkovic's cross from the right at the feet of Han Peng, who stabbed home from close range.
Shandong almost went ahead three minutes later when Li Jinyu saw his effort saved by Dalian keeper Chen Dong while Han Peng lobbed the rebound over the crossbar.
However, the home side would get the winner 10 minutes from time as Zhao took advantage of a collision between Shandong defenders Nikola Malbasa and Yuan Weiwei, gathering in a loose ball on the right edge of the box before clipping the ball home.
With the win, Dalian moved a point ahead of Shandong into second place in the CSL standings with 21 points, two behind leaders Changchun Yatai.
Changchun soared to the top thanks to a sensational performance by Honduran stiker Elvis Scott who single-handedly dismantled Shanghai Shenhua with four goals in the northeastern side's 4-1 home victory.
In other games on Sunday, Beijing Guoan were held 1-1 by Shaanxi Baorong, Wuhan Huanghelou edged Qingdao Zhongneng 1-0 and Henan Jianye lost 1-0- to Changsha Ginde.
But youngster Zhao Xuri scored twice for Dalian including a late winner to give the eight-time champions a measure of revenge against the team that wrested away their league title last season.
Dalian got off to an excellent start, taking a two-goal lead within the first half-hour.
In the 18th minute, striker Zhu Ting was bought down in the Shandong box by defender Jiao Zhe and Bulgarian international forward Zoran Jankovic fired home from the penalty spot to put the home side ahead.
Seven minutes later, Zhao Xuri curled in a free-kick from the left that swerved past a bemused Shandong keeper Li Leilei.
Shandong cut the deficit four minutes before the interval when midfielder Zhou Haibin powered home from 30 meters and on 75 minutes, Dalian defender Zhai Yanpeng inexplicably knocked down Aleksander Zivkovic's cross from the right at the feet of Han Peng, who stabbed home from close range.
Shandong almost went ahead three minutes later when Li Jinyu saw his effort saved by Dalian keeper Chen Dong while Han Peng lobbed the rebound over the crossbar.
However, the home side would get the winner 10 minutes from time as Zhao took advantage of a collision between Shandong defenders Nikola Malbasa and Yuan Weiwei, gathering in a loose ball on the right edge of the box before clipping the ball home.
With the win, Dalian moved a point ahead of Shandong into second place in the CSL standings with 21 points, two behind leaders Changchun Yatai.
Changchun soared to the top thanks to a sensational performance by Honduran stiker Elvis Scott who single-handedly dismantled Shanghai Shenhua with four goals in the northeastern side's 4-1 home victory.
In other games on Sunday, Beijing Guoan were held 1-1 by Shaanxi Baorong, Wuhan Huanghelou edged Qingdao Zhongneng 1-0 and Henan Jianye lost 1-0- to Changsha Ginde.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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