Holders and group rivals Western Sydney Wanderers drew 0-0 with FC Seoul to leave Guangzhou already eyeing the last 16 with three pool games to go.
Elsewhere, Australian champions Brisbane Roar had to scramble to rescue a point against Suwon Bluewings in Group G despite being two-up in the first 22 minutes.
In another thrilling match, Brandon Borrello and Devante Clut gave the hosts the two-goal cushion before the South Korean side fought back with a brace from Seo Jung-Jin.
The DPRK striker Jong Tae-Se appeared to have secured a famous win on 71 minutes, before Clut spared Brisbane's blushes with his equaliser with 10 minutes to go.
In Group F, Theerathon Bunmathan levelled on 62 minutes as Thailand's Buriram United held Japanese treble-winners Gamba Osaka 1-1 away.