Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Shanghai Shenhua 11th with 47 points, Hebei CFFC 18th with -3, 50 apart. Scoring rates set the scale: Shanghai Shenhua 1.24 scored and 1 conceded per game, Hebei CFFC 0.53 and 3.38, with the league averaging 1.43.
Shanghai Shenhua arrived on a run of four straight wins. Recent form was uneven: 13/15 points for Shanghai Shenhua, 3/15 for Hebei CFFC.
Hongkou Stadium in Shanghai staged the fixture, a ground that holds 33,060. Half-time and full-time told different stories: it was 0-0 at the break, before 1 more goal closed it at 1-0.