AFC Champions League Elite
The result moves the Japanese side, whose place in the knockout rounds of the competition had already been confirmed due to Tuesday’s results, onto 16 points from seven games and ahead of compatriots Vissel Kobe on goal difference.
Shenhua, meanwhile, remain in 10th position and a point outside the top eight places that qualify for the last 16 with one match – against Kobe on February 18 – remaining as the Chinese Super League side look to advance.
The game was the first for former England assistant coach Holland since he was appointed during the close season and the 2023-24 AFC Champions League finalists were often second-best in the opening exchanges.
F Marinos goalkeeper Park Il-gyu blocked Shinichi Chan’s early close range attempt and Joao Teixeira flashed a shot across the face of goal as the visitors, needing a win to enhance their qualification hopes, made a bright start.
Saulo Mineiro squandered their clearest opening of the first 20 minutes when he thumped his shot high over the bar when gifted possession by the F Marinos defence, and the Chinese side were to rue that miss moments later when Yan Matheus struck.
The Brazilian applied the decisive touch after Anderson Lopes rolled the ball through his legs to his compatriot, who bent a first-time left-foot shot into the top corner from outside the area, far beyond Bao Yaxiong’s reach.
Lopes could have doubled the home side’s lead with nine minutes left in the half when he met a neat layoff by Katsuya Nagato, only for the forward to thump his shot high over the bar from eight yards.
Shanghai Shenhua captain Wu Xi saw his shot deflected wide as the Chinese outfit sought an equaliser after the interval while Andre Luis’ header at Chan’s corner could only find the hands of Park.
The home side continued to carry a threat at the other end, Yan Matheus sliding his pass into the path of Asahi Uenaka, but Bao blocked his goal-bound shot. Uenaka was then inches away from doubling the lead midway through the half when his header flashed wide.