Jelavic scores two in surprise Guizhou Zhicheng win vs. Guangzhou R&F

Former Hull City and Everton striker Nikica Jelavic scored twice as Guizhou Zhicheng notched up a surprise 3-1 win over Chinese Super League leaders Guangzhou R&F on Friday evening.

Eran Zahavi gave Dragan Stojkovic's team the lead with less than a minute on the clock, but Guizhou fought back and Michael Olunga levelled midway through the half.

Goals in the 75th minute and deep into stoppage time from Jelavic gave Guizhou their first win of the season to move the club onto six points from their first seven games of the campaign.

"We expected difficulties in this game," said Stojkovic. "When you face a team with less risk there will always be a lots of factors influencing the match.

"In the second half we didn't control the game. Overall I don't see any big problems although the final result was unexpected, but we have to accept the result."

R&F continue to lead the standings by three points from Shanghai SIPG, who take on Chongqing Lifan on Sunday, and Guangzhou Evergrande, who travel to take on Henan Jianye on Saturday.

A win for either side would likely see them move ahead of R&F on goal difference, but Stojkovic was upbeat despite the defeat that brought his team's unbeaten start to the season to an end.

"I think it is extremely difficult to keep an unbeaten record, we have to accept that we can lose too and we have to learn from it," he said.

"We have had a good six matches and the players' performances have been outstanding. A defeat is acceptable so long as we learn something from it.

"The three points are important for a team like Guizhou, we are still in the top half of the standings so I'm not very sad."