Odion Ighalo returned to action for Shanghai Shenhua after a two-month injury layoff, but it ended in a defeat for the club as they were hammered 3-0 at home to Tianjin Teda.
Ighalo came off the bench in the second-half for Stephan El-Shaarawy, with his side trailing three nil.
A 55th minute substitution, the 2019 AFCON top scorer is being eased into action, having copped a muscle injury while on duty with Nigeria.
The forward has 7 league goals from 10 appearances for Shanghai Shenhua this season, but has already missed 15 games – the club currently five points from safety.