Shanghai Shenhua left it late but secured a 2–0 away win over Qingdao Hainiu on Saturday as they regained top spot in the Chinese Super League title race.

 

Yu Hanchao broke the deadlock in the fourth minute of added time the end of the second half with Liu Chengyu sealing the victory four minutes later as Shenhua moved up to 49 points.

Shanghai Port dropped to second after being held 1-1 by Tianjin Jinmen Tiger on Sunday, with the defending champions a point adrift of Shenhua. Gabrielzinho put Port ahead from the penalty spot in the 13th minute but Alberto Quiles equalised two minutes before the break.

 

Chengdu Rongcheng produced a commanding performance to defeat Yunnan Yukun 5–1 on the road, sitting third on 47 points.

Tim Chow opened the scoring in the 12th minute with John Hou Sæter briefly giving Yunnan hope with a 33rd-minute equaliser.

 

Felipe de Sousa Silva’s quickfire brace (54th, 63rd) and further goals from Rongxiang Liao (78th) and Moyu Li (88th), however, rounded off the emphatic win.

 

In other matches, Shandong Taishan defeated Qingdao Youth Island 3-2, Changchun Yatai edged Peng City 1-0 while Zheijang and Meizhou Hakka played to a 2-2 draw. 

Kyoto Sanga and Kashima Antlers are tied at the top of the J1 League after registering important wins.

 

Rafael starred with a hat-trick in Kyoto’s 4-0 win against FC Tokyo – with two of his goals coming from the penalty spot – and Yoshinori Suzuki added the fourth as they moved up to 51 points.

Kashima stayed in the hunt with a 2–1 victory over Albirex Niigata.

 

Yuma Suzuki opened the scoring in the fourth minute with Matheus Moraes equalising in the 17th. Leonardo de Sousa Pereira struck in the 87th minute to secure the win for Kashima.

 

Machida Zelvia sit a point behind the two pacesetters after being held to a goalless draw by Yokohama F. Marinos, while defending champions Vissel Kobe also had to settle for a point after a 1–1 draw with Cerezo Osaka. Shinji Kagawa put the hosts ahead in the 35th minute, but Erik levelled early in the second half.

In other matches, Kashiwa Reysol defeated Urawa Reds 4–2, Sanfrecce claimed a 3–0 win over Tokyo Verdy and Okayama edged Shonan Bellmare 1–0.

Pohang Steelers surged to a 3-1 win over leaders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC as the pacesetters suffered only their third defeat of the season.

 

Jorge Luiz gave Pohang a dream start, scoring within the first minute but Tiago Orobo drew Jeonbuk level from the penalty spot in the 16th.

 

Park Seung-wook restored Pohang’s lead in the 24th minute with Luiz’s spot-kick on the stroke of half-time sealing the points.

The defeat reduced Jeonbuk’s lead to 14 points, with Pohang third on 44 points.

 

Gimcheon Sangmu moved up to 46 points after coming from behind to beat Suwon FC 3-2. Luan Dias opened the scoring for Suwon in the ninth minute, but Gimcheon hit back through Park Sang-hyeok (26th), Seung-Sub Kim (45+2) and Lee Dong-gyeong (90+2). Willyan added a second for Suwon in the 64th minute.

Ulsan HD’s woes continued following a 3-2 defeat to FC Seoul, Anyang edged Daejeon Hana 3-2, Gangwon beat Gwangju 1-0 and Daegu drew 2-2 with Jeju.

AC Taipei defeated Taipower 2-1 to make it two wins out of two as they opened a two-point gap at the top of the Chinese Taipei Premier League.

Tatung lost ground after being held to a goalless draw by Taipei Steel while Hang Yuen edged Ming Chuan University 1-0. Taichung Rock also lost 1-0 to Taichung Futuro.