Beijing Guoan were stunned by Chongqing Lifan as Huang Xiyang struck twice to help the hosts to a 3-2 win.
The capital side maintain a one-point advantage over second-placed Shandong Luneng after the defending champions were held by Shenzhen Kingway in a goalless draw.
At Yanghe Stadium, veteran midfielder Tao Wei put the visiting side ahead just six minutes into the game as his superb 40-yard free-kick beat goalkeeper Yu Yongzhe.
The goal was cancelled out by Lambert just one minute later as the Costa Rican sidestepped keeper Yang Zhi to fire the ball into the empty net before he smartly dodged defender Zhang Yonghai's intervention in the penalty area.
Huang put the home side in front just before half time, volleying past Yang with a spectacular scissor kick.
He doubled the lead for the hosts midway through the second half with a clinical close-range attempt after Wu Peng unexpectedly tipped Lambert's cross into the path of Huang.
Australian striker Joel Griffiths squandered a golden opportunity just a few minutes later as he rifled a penalty over the crossbar.
Defender Zhou Ting cut the deficit four minutes before the final whistle, taking advantage of Chongqing's loose defending and striking home with an excellent solo effort, but the goal wasn't enough for the CSL leaders to earn a point.
"Injuries hit my side just before the game," said Beijing coach Lee Jang-soo. "But it was not an excuse for the defeat today and I should be responsible for the woeful performance.
"I am prepared to relinquish my position as Beijing coach."
The CSL resumed yesterday after a one-month break and Beijing's defeat to the bottom side was a huge blow to Lee's team as they look to win their first title in the domestic top flight since China started a professional league in 1994.
"If we continue to get stuck in this bad form, we won't be able to achieve our goal," Lee added.
Beijing are still in first place with 27 points while Chongqing remain bottom with 12 points.
Shandong could have surpassed Beijing to gain the top spot if they claimed three points from their game against Shenzhen, the second from bottom side in the CSL table.
But the strikers were unable to shoot on target throughout the match as the defending champions extended there winless streak to five games.
Elsewhere, Jiangsu Shuntian drew Shanghai Shenhua 2-2, Chengdu Blades beat Shaanxi Baorong 2-0, Dalian Shide and Tianjin Teda played out a 1-1 draw, Guangzhou Guangyao got the better of Henan Jianye 2-0, Changchun Yatai were held by Changsha Ginde 1-1 and Qingdao Zhongneng also shared a 1-1 draw with Hangzhou Lucheng.
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