Griffiths on target in heavy Shanghai loss

Liu Weidong grabbed an early double for the visitor before Marquinhos netted a penalty.

Griffiths scored Shenhua's lone goal late in the first half.

Leader Guangzhou Evergrande preserved its three-point advantage at the top after a 1-1 draw at second-placed Jiangsu Shuntian.

The visitor got off to a shocking start when Ji Xiang put Jiangsu ahead inside a minute but hit back to earn a share of the spoils through Ning Jiang four minutes after half-time.

Beijing Guoan consolidated third spot with an impressive 2-0 win at Qingdao Zhongneng.

Brazilian Davi grabbed the opener after four minutes and Changqing Wang added a second 22 minutes later.

Fourth-placed Guizhou Renhe could only manage a 1-1 draw at Hangzhou Greentown.

One-time A-League defender Dino Djulbic put Guizhou ahead in the first-half but the host equalised three minutes later through Renatinho.

Anselmo also netted a brace in Shanxi Zhongxin's 4-1 victory at Dalian Shide.

His double was sandwiched by goals from Wang Yun and Antonio Flavio.

Adriano had earlier opened the scoring for Dalian, who remain third bottom.

A late Gao Do goal gave Shandong Luneng a 1-1 draw against Liaoning, who had gone ahead through Zhang Ye, while Tianjin Taida and rock-bottom Henan Jianye also finished in a stalemate.

Lucian Goian put Tianjin ahead only for Zhi Xiao to level in the final minute.