Then, 11 minutes later, Mooy latched on to a reverse pass from Oscar to calmly lift the ball over Dong Hengyi for a debut goal that would prove vital.

The Shanghai side suffered a scare when Wuhan cut the lead with 10 minutes left. Jean Evrard Kouassi set up Eddy Gnahore to score but the scoreline remained 2-1 at the final whistle.

Those three points stretched the 2018 champions’ lead at the top of group A to four points as Beijing Guoan were held to a draw in a six-goal thriller in Tuesday’s other game.

The 2009 winners took on local rivals Hebei China Fortune in Suzhou and were soon behind to Xie Feng’s side.

Newly naturalised Chinese striker Ricardo Goulart broke the deadlock after 10 minutes, cushioning a volley home from a Buya Turay pass.

Renato Augusto then levelled the scores in some style, taking a Cedric Bakambu pass, ghosting past Ding Haifeng in defence and then chipping goalkeeper Bao Yaxiong.

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The duo combined for Guoan’s second goal in first-half stoppage time, Bakambu heading in an Augusto cross for the half-time lead.

Another naturalised Chinese player on loan from Guangzhou Evergrande appeared to have sealed the points for Beijing in the 89th minute.

Alan Carvalho fired home to make it 3-1, finally adding another goal after a host of chances and a disallowed strike.

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Bruno Genesio’s side were made to count for their second-half profligacy in stoppage time.

First, Zhang Chengdong arrowed a goal into the top corner from the edge of the box to make it 3-2 before a clumsy challenge from substitute goalkeeper Guo Quanbo handed a penalty to Hebei.

Wuhan remain in the fourth and final spot in the chase for the championship games and the possibility of an AFC Champions League spot in the second round. Hebei are only a point behind in fifth.