Shandong steamroll Shanghai Shenhua in Super League

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Shandong Luneng climbed to the top of the Chinese Super League (CSL) after beating Shanghai Greenland Shenhua 3-1 in the 15th round on Wednesday.

Visitors Shenhua broke the deadlock in the 37th minute when striker Demba Ba raced on to Colombian midfielder Giovanni Moreno's precise through-ball and fired home.

Shandong then equalized in first half injury time as Brazilian striker Roger Guedes headed down the touchline to pull the ball back from a tight angle, resulting in an own goal from Shenhua's Li Peng.

The hosts then took the lead early in the second half, with Diego Tardelli heading home to score his ninth goal of the season.

Jin Jingdao then wrapped up the points for Shandong with an 83rd minute free kick.

Shandong sit top of the table for now with 31 points, though Beijing Guoan still have a chance of being crowned half-season champions if they beat Hebei China Fortune on Thursday.

Shenhua's Demba Ba scores the opening goal of the game against Shandong Luneng. /VCG Photo

Elsewhere in the CSL on Wednesday, Chongqing Lifan beat fellow strugglers Guizhou Hengfeng 4-3 in an entertaining game, Changchun Yatai ovecame CSL newcomers Dalian Yifang 3-0, and Jiangsu Suning edged Henan Jianye 1-0. Guangzhou R&F and Shanghai SIPG both enjoyed big wins, beating their respective opponents Beijing Renhe and Tianjin Quanjian by scores of 4-1.

(With input from Xinhua)