CSL: Chengdu edge Shanghai Shenhua to go top, Qingdao West Coast defeat Meizhou

An early top of the table clash in the Chinese Super League (CSL) saw Chengdu Rongcheng leapfrog last season's runners-up Shanghai Shenhua with a narrow 1-0 win at home on Friday.

In front of a packed crowd in Sichuan Province, visitors Shenhua nearly took the lead, but Zhu Chenjie's looping header at the back post ricocheted off the bar in the 23rd minute.

Four minutes later, the hosts took the lead on the other end when former Brazil U23 forward Romulo finished off a scramble in the box with his sixth goal of the season.

The visitors kept pressing for an equaliser after halftime, in a bid to keep their unbeaten run intact. But with 19 minutes left, Joao Teixeira's free kick came back off the post. He was then sent off in stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card.

Rongcheng moved to the top of the table on goal difference at the expense of Shenhua, who dropped to second.

In other action, Qingdao West Coast eased past Meizhou Hakka at home 3-1.

The hosts opened the scoring in semi-spectacular fashion. A long range effort from Davidson could have been the goal of the season, but it bounced off the bar and Abdul-Aziz Yakubu chipped in the rebound.

After scoring Qingdao's opener, Yakubu set up their second by laying the ball on a plate for Duan Liuyu, 11 minutes into the second half.

A solo run from Nelson da Luz made it 3-0 for Qingdao with 23 minutes left, before Branimir Jocic's close-range header in the 86th minute notched a consolation goal for Meizhou. Qingdao moved up to seventh place, while Meizhou sat in 10th.

With the first 10 matchdays of the CSL season complete, Rongcheng and Shenhua are followed in the standings by Beijing Guoan and two-time defending champions Shanghai Port, who round out the top four.