Alex Teixeira and Eder Martins scored two goals apiece as Jiangsu Suning handed Guangzhou R&F a 5-1 thrashing on Sunday to move up to fourth in the Chinese Super League standings.
Cosmin Olaroiu’s side secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season and are now six points behind leaders Beijing Guoan after the first six games of the campaign.
Martins put Jiangsu in front with just three minutes on the clock and, after Dusko Tosic headed R&F level, Teixeira’s double before the half-hour mark put Olaroiu’s team in control.
Further goals from Martins and Xie Pengfei in the second half sealed the win for the Nanjing-based club while Dragan Stojkovic’s side dropped to 12th in the 16-team standings.
Jiangsu moved ahead of fifth-placed Chongqing Lifan, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Dalian Yifang, while Wuhan Zall and Shanghai Shenhua also drew 1-1.
Beijing Guoan continue to top the table with a perfect 18 points from the first six games after Zhang Yuning scored the only goal in their narrow win at Chris Coleman’s Hebei CFFC on Saturday.
Roger Schmidt’s side are now three points clear of second-placed Guangzhou Evergrande, who had Anderson Talisca to thank for their 2-1 win over Shandong Luneng on Friday.
The Brazilian scored both goals as Fabio Cannavaro’s team bounced back from their surprise loss last week to Beijing Renhe.
Champions Shanghai SIPG are third, a further two points adrift, after being held to a 0-0 draw by Tianjin Tianhai.
Jin Qiang scored two minutes from time to secure a 2-2 draw for Shenzhen FC against Beijing Renhe on Saturday and the newly-promoted club are now in eighth, with Renhe just one point above the relegation zone in 14th.
Frank Acheampong ran from inside his own half to score a superb 75th minute solo goal and earn the Uli Stielike-coached Tianjin Teda a 3-2 win over bottom club Henan Jianye.