With two goals from Frank Acheampong, Tianjin Teda secured a 2-0 victory over Shenzhen FC, its first win of the season, in the first leg of the two-game relegation playoffs in the Chinese Super League in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province on Friday.

The second leg will be played on October 21.

Tianjin broke the deadlock in the third minute when the Ghana striker got an exquisite pass from newly signed forward Tiquinho Soares and scored an open goal after a mistake from goalkeeper Guo Wei.

In the second half, midfielder Zheng Kaimu's lofted ball found Acheampong sprinting into the penalty area, and the Ghanaian hit a low drive to make it 2-0.

Eight teams have been pitted into the CSL relegation group. After three rounds of matches, the bottom team will be relegated, with the team next to the last having the last chance to make it to the CSL through a two-game playoffs against a team from League One.

The following game saw Guangzhou Evergrande beat Hebei China Fortune 3-1 in Suzhou.

In the 38th minute, the Hebei side broke the deadlock through Yi Hongbo whose angled long-range shot gave the Evergrande goalkeeper Liu Dianzuo no chance to save.

Wu Shaocong equalized for the defending champion in the 65th minute with a powerful shot.

Ai Kesen, known as Elkeson in Brazil, put Evergrande 2-1 ahead in the 87th minute when he converted a penalty kick, which was awarded after Wei Shihao was fallen by a Hebei defender in the area. Wei sealed the win at the injury time when he headed in a corner kick.

Both sides will play the second leg next Wednesday with the winner advancing to the semifinals. The loser will play two more playoffs to decide their final position of the coronavirus-affected season.

(Cover image: Frank Acheampong of Tianjin Teda celebrates after scoring for his team against in the first leg of the two-game relegation playoffs against Shenzhen FC in the Chinese Super League in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, October 16, 2020. /VCG)