Gao Lin saves Guangzhou Evergrande’s blushes in derby with last-minute equaliser against Chinese Super League leaders R&F

Substitute Gao Lin headed home in the last minute as Guangzhou Evergrande ended Guangzhou R&F’s perfect start to the Chinese Super League season after earning the defending champions a 2-2 draw in Saturday’s entertaining derby at Tianhe Stadium.

Brazilian Alan took advantage of some slack R&F defending to open the scoring for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Evergrande after just nine minutes after the visitors failed to deal with a seemingly regulation ball forward into the penalty area.

R&F, though, equalised three minutes before half-time as Israel striker Eran Zahavi converted from the penalty spot for Dragan Stojkovic’s side after Tang Miao’s cross struck the arm of Zheng Long.

And four minutes after the hour mark Renatinho curled an eye-catching free kick into the top corner out of the reach of a despairing full length dive from Evergrande goalkeeper Zeng Cheng to seemingly hand R&F a fourth win is as many games.

But with China international striker Gao popping up at the back post to direct a diving header past R&F goalkeeper Cheng Yuelei, Stojkovic’s side saw their perfect start to the season brought to an end as they moved a point clear of Shanghai SIPG and Shandong Luneng at the top of the table.

Watch: Renatinho’s free kick for Guangzhou R&F