Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Nantong Zhiyun 12th with 33 points, Shanghai Shenxin 16th with 12, 21 apart. Nantong Zhiyun had been over-performing their table position on recent form: 3rd in the league over the last five rounds against 12th overall. Against a league average of 1.45 goals per team per game, Nantong Zhiyun ran at 1.17 scored and 1.27 conceded, Shanghai Shenxin at 1 and 2.73.
Shanghai Shenxin arrived off four straight defeats.
Rugao Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Rugao staged the fixture, a ground that holds 15,000. Half-time and full-time told different stories: it was 0-0 at the break, before 3 more goals closed it at 1-2.