Shanghai Shenhua go five points clear

Shanghai Shenhua have extended their lead in the Chinese League Jia A (First Division), after defeating Chongqing Lifan New Feeling 3-0 last night. Two second-half goals were enough to secure the victory.

The win meant the Shanghai club extended their lead at the top of the table to five points over second-placed Yunna Hongta, who play the recently renamed Liaoning Zhongshun in Beijing tonight.

Liaoning Zhongshun, formerly known as Liaoning Bird, moved to the capital this year to become Beijing Sanyuan, but last weekend announced they had secured a five-year deal with the Zhonghshun Automobile group. The nomadic club will return to Liaoning province to play home games in Fushun's Leifeng Stadium until October when they will relocate again within the province to Shenyang.

The big match of the day today sees Shanghai COSCO Huili, who are third behind Yunnan on goal difference, travel to the reigning champions for the past three seasons, Dalian Shide, who are currently fourth and two points behind them.

That encounter could give Shenzhen Jianlibao a chance to force their way into the title reckoning. A point adrift of Dalian in fifth place, the star-studded 'Real Shenzhen' side are hosts to a Bayi Xiangtan team that suffered an embarrassing 4-0 loss at home to Shaanxi Guoli last weekend.

In today's other matches Tianjin Taida, who have just signed Denmark's World Cup midfielder Stig Tofting, visit Sichuan Guancheng while Shenyang Ginde are at home to Qingdao Bright.