Dalian surge to a 13-point lead

All-conquering Dalian Shide notched up their fifth win in a row yesterday to open up a 13-point lead in the Chinese Super League.

The northeast side cashed in on an own-goal from Shanghai Zobon for a 1-0 win that increased their tally to 44 points after 17 games so far this season and moved one step closer to a record eighth domestic title. Shanghai defender Yang Lin saw his attempted headed clearance beat his own keeper on the half-hour mark.

Elsewhere, defending champions Shenzhen had to settle for a 2-2 draw against visiting Shandong Luneng, which slowed the hosts' recent climb up the table. Shenzhen, having suffered financial woes and internal squabbles early in the season, have recovered since the start of the second stage, moving up from the basement to the eighth place in the standings thanks to an eight-game unbeaten run.

In other games, Wuhan Huanghelou edged past Sichuan Guancheng 1-0 while Shenyang Ginde and International Shanghai shared the points after a goalless draw.