Shanghai SIPG blew another chance to move into pole position of the Chinese Super League on Sunday as Andre Villas-Boas' side lost to a late goal from Shandong Luneng's Wu Xinghan to fall 2-1.
SIPG went into the game in Jinan knowing victory would take them ahead of defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande after Luiz Felipe Scolari's side suffered a 4-2 thrashing against Guangzhou R&F on Saturday, but Villas-Boas' team missed the opportunity to capitalise.
It was the third time in four weeks that SIPG failed to take advantage of an Evergrande side that has been in poor form and the faltering performances of the top two mean the battle for the title has been reinvigorated.
Shandong's win -- which came after Jin Jingdao cancelled out Wu Lei's opener before Wu Xinghan hit the winner three minutes from time -- leaves Felix Magath's team in fourth but, with a game in hand, the German's team are now only seven points behind Evergrande.
"It was the perfect game for us thanks to the players' fighting spirit and endless running," said Magath. "We will enjoy our win tonight. Our opponents was very aggressive throughout the whole game.
"I always want to win the championship, but we have to be realistic. As I told my players today, this win isn't only for us but it will bring more entertainment back into the league. Let's enjoy the moment for now."
The defeat was SIPG's second in four games in the league and the big spending Shanghai club remain one point behind Evergrande.
"We will have to review the second half, because we should have scored a second goal and finished off the game," said Villas-Boas.
"Now the league is quite open, other teams are chasing us too. But I hope we can continue to show our fighting spirit."
In the day's other game, Liaoning Whowin broke their seven-game losing streak when Christian Bekamenga scored the only goal against Changchun Yatai to give Ma Lin's side all three points.