The defending champions needed a last-minute goal from Rene Junior to secure maximum points, after throwing away a 3-0 lead in 16 second-half minutes.
Marcelo Lippi's side, chasing a fourth successive crown, remain six points clear of nearest challengers Beijing Guoan with four matches remaining.
There was little sign of the drama to come when the visitors stormed into a commanding lead within 35 minutes.
Abderrazak Hamdallah completed the comeback with 10 minutes to spare but, just when it seemed both sides would have to settle for a point, Junior popped up in the final minute to seal a dramatic win for the league leaders.
Guoan managed to keep pace in second place, as Dejan Damjanovic's treble secured a 3-1 victory at Liaoning Whowin.
In the race for the final AFC Champions League qualification slot, Shandong Luneng took advantage of R and F's defeat with a 2-0 home win over Shanghai Shenhua.
Liu Binbin and Aloisio sealed the triumph, with Shandong now three points behind R and F in the race for third, with the pair set to do battle on October 19.
At the wrong end of the table, Harbin Yiteng remain bottom after a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Dalian Aerbin, while Henan Jianye's third successive draw - 1-1 at Tianjin Teda - sees them move to within two points of safety.
The clash between Guizhou Renhe and Shanghai SIPG also finished 1-1, while the mid-table encounter between Jiangsu Sainty and Changchun Yatai ended 2-0 to the latter - Montenegro international Fatos Beciraj claiming both goals.
