Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Shanghai Shenhua 2nd with 77 points, Cangzhou 12th with 29, 48 apart. Cangzhou had been under-performing their position — 16th on five-round form against 12th in the table. Scoring rates set the scale: Cangzhou 1.1 scored and 1.9 conceded per game, Shanghai Shenhua 2.43 and 0.67, with the league averaging 1.56.
Cangzhou were winless in 14. Defeat had not touched Shanghai Shenhua in 15 games. From the last five rounds, Cangzhou held 2 points of 15 and Shanghai Shenhua 13.
GioScore's database holds 5 meetings between the two: 0 for Cangzhou, 3 for Shanghai Shenhua and 2 drawn, at 3.2 goals per meeting. Whoever hosts gains little here: home teams have taken just 40% of the wins in this fixture.
The venue was Jinzhou Stadium in Jinzhou Stadium, with room for 30,776 spectators. Half-time and full-time told different stories: Shanghai Shenhua led 2-0 at the break, before 3 more goals closed it at 0-5.