Vintage Lionel Messi masterclass was always going to be one hell of a hard act to follow. Nobody batted an eye when the much-ballyhooed showdown between Beijing Guoan and Shanghai Port, the very first game played at the Workers' Stadium since that surreal night, turned out to be a much less pulsating affair. That said, what it lacked in stirring showmanship and panache, it made up for in high-octane pace and unswerving commitment.

While the Messi mania in the Chinese capital has long dissipated, the Beijing faithful, undeterred by the unforgiving heat, created another cauldron-like atmosphere inside the packed arena that was bathed in a sea of lime green jerseys, scarves and massive tifos.

An absorbing subplot had involved how Shanghai would cope with the magnitude of the occasion. Though it was perplexing to see the Chinese Premier League (CSL) leaders suddenly scrabbling around for control towards the end of this fraught encounter, the reality is they still boasted the undeniable quality and phenomenal resilience to come up with a monumental triumph. 

Grinding out a result is the hallmark of prospective champions and priceless goals from Lyu Wenjun and Mirahmetjan Muzepper were enough for Shanghai to restore their four-point lead at the top. Javier Pereira's side just refused to buckle when the hosts cranked up the pressure and, although the visitors were clinging on at times, in the end, they were able to celebrate a crucial win and savored the fact that they became the first team to take three points here this season. On this evidence, a first title since 2018 is theirs to lose.

For Beijing, however, it was an agonizing evening in more ways than one. As if seeing Yang Liyu, their high-flying match-winner against Zibo Qisheng last week, limp off early on was not doomed enough, there was also the exasperation of the VAR interventions that left their new coach Ricardo Soares feeling hard done by in his first CSL game in charge.

There were early signs of encouragement as Soares saw his players grab the game by the scruff of the neck at the outset. Roared on by a boisterous home crowd, Beijing thought they had opened the scoring, only for a marginal offside call in the build up to the goal to deny them. After a lengthy VAR check, Naibijiang Mohemaiti was found to have strayed offside by a hair before orchestrating an attack that was ultimately headed home by Arijan Ademi.

Not for the first time, the mood inside had turned when the refereeing decisions went against the hosts. Yet much of their frustration stemmed from the self-possession of Shanghai. Their equanimity was unflinching, their assertiveness matched by their mental fortitude. Small details make the difference at this level and the blockbuster clash quickly descended into an ordeal for Beijing.

Former Espanyol striker Wu Lei ran riot and repeatedly worked his way into swaths of spaces with incredible ease. The Shanghai talisman's impact was for all to see, driving the whole team to press on to the front foot. The visitors finally made the breakthrough as Lyu netted his third goal of the season with a close-range finish after Wu's shot was deflected into his path.

Shanghai's second was beautifully converted by Mirahmetjan, blasted high into the top right corner from outside the area after a lovely pass from ex-Chelsea star Oscar. Even Soares will have shown begrudging respect for this wonder strike but little else would have brought enjoyment on his home debut.

The consolation goal from substitute Fang Hao, who halved the deficit with a smart effort in the 81st minute, threatened to turn the game on its head, but it's too little, too late for Beijing to snatch an undeserved point in the dying stages.

"We had anticipated that this game would be a tough one. Everyone was aware of the strength of Shanghai Port, who are currently at the top of the league," Soares told reporters more than an hour after the final whistle. "I emphasized to the players that the details of the game would determine the result. However, we faced an unexpected setback right from the start.

"Yang Liyu is a crucial player in our system, and his injury disrupted our strategy. Despite this, I still believe that we had a chance to earn at least one point. We managed to score two goals, but unfortunately, one of them was ruled out by the referee."

Soares accepted Beijing, who have trudged through a deep malaise to mid-table mediocrity, were taught serious lessons by Shanghai but insisted his squad will need time to develop. 

"Our opponents are very strong but we also demonstrated our own strength," he said. "I would like to express my gratitude to the fans who supported us throughout, and to my players who fought until the very last minute.

"Of course, we still have a lot of work to do in training, and I need my players' cooperation and understanding to adapt to my tactics. I believe that their efforts will bear fruit in the near future...We need to stay united and look forward, and strive to play well in the remaining games."

In previous years the mention of Guoan and their iconic Workers' Stadium might have sent a shiver down the spine of the visitors. Those days have gone. In these times, Beijing are dazed and confused, lacked any semblance of a coherent game plan and ended up looking what they are, an unpredictable and unsettled team struggling to adjust to life under another new regime.

For what it's worth, time is not on Soares' side.