Chinese Super League leaders Shandong Luneng were stunned at the Shenyang Tiexie Stadium today as they suffered a 4-1 defeat to Liaoning Zhongyu.

Liaoning took the lead after 14 minutes when Yang Xu was brought down by Mourtala Diakite, Chen Xing making no mistake from the penalty spot. Liaoning doubled their advantage after 30 minutes as Yang evaded Shandong's offside trap before calmly firing a left-footed drive into the back of the net.

The game was put beyond Shandong when Chinese international Han Peng tapped home a rebound just before half-time and Yu Hanchao added a fourth midway through the second half after completing a one-two with Yang. Liaoning are now fourth in the table, eight points behind Shandong.

Elsewhere, Jean Michel N'Lend scored the only goal of the game 13 minutes before the final whistle as second-placed Shanghai defeated Chongqing 1-0. The Cameroon forward latched onto Wu Xi's header to curl a shot past goalkeeper Yu Yongzhe and secure the three points.

Shanghai are now only one point adrift of Shandong but have a six-point advantage over third-placed Beijing Guoan, who were held 2-2 by Henan Jianye at Beijing Workers' Stadium.

In other games, Shenzhen Kingway were outclassed by Shaanxi Baorong 3-1, Tianjin Teda and Hangzhou Lucheng played out a goalless draw, Nanchang Bayi beat Changchun Yatai 2-0, Jiangsu Shuntian thrashed Qingdao Zhongneng 4-0 and Dalian Shide lost to Changsha Ginde 1-0.