Chengdu Rongcheng maintained its lead in the Chinese Super League after a 1-0 home win over Changchun Yatai in the 24th round, with Wei Shihao scoring the decisive early goal.

Chengdu, who climbed to the top of the table in the previous round, struck just four minutes into Friday's match when Wei's free kick bounced in front of Changchun's goalkeeper and found the net.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men in the 81st minute after Wang Dongsheng was sent off, but they held firm to secure the victory, moving to 53 points, two clear of Shanghai Port.

Shanghai Port kept up the chase with a 4-2 home win over Yunnan Yukun, as Liu Ruofan scored twice and provided an assist.

Shanghai Shenhua slipped to third after squandering the lead three times in a 3-3 draw with Shandong Taishan, where Valeri Qazaishvili netted a hat-trick.

Elsewhere, Beijing Guoan's poor form continued with a 2-0 defeat to Henan FC. Zhejiang FC beat Qingdao West Coast 2-0, Dalian Yingbo came from behind to edge Shenzhen Peng City 2-1, and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger thrashed Wuhan Three Towns 4-0.

The fixture between Meizhou Hakka and Qingdao Hainiu has been postponed to October.