Serbia international Aleksandar Rodic scored the only goal in Shanghai Shenhua's 1-0 win over Dalian Shide. Rodic netted just ten minutes in to put Shenhua four points adrift of front-runners Beijing Guoan and Shandong Luneng after both sides played out draws.

Yu Tao quickly clipped a free-kick into the path of Rodic after Shenhua earned a free-kick in the midfield before the Serbian calmly slotted the ball through the legs of keeper Sun Shoubo. Dalian looked for an immediate reply as South Korea international Ahn Jung-hwan and former Manchester United striker Dong Fangzhuo each proved to be a constant menace to the Shenhua defence.

Shenhua almost doubled the lead five minutes after the break as Du Wei's header hit the crossbar, but they had to rely on goalkeeper Wang Dalei to keep them in the game as the visitors rallied in the final 15 minutes.

"It was a hard-fought victory for us," said Shenhua midfielder Yu Tao. "We are determined to fight for three points in every [remaining] match to keep our championship hopes alive."

Shenhua now have 19 points in fourth place, while eight-time champions Dalian are in ninth place of the 16-member Chinese Super League with 17 points.

Also today, defending champions Shandong were held by bottom side Chongqing Lifan in a 0-0 draw at home. Shandong are now in second place with 23 points, trailing Beijing on goal difference.

Elsewhere, Changchun Yatai overpowered Guangzhou Guangyao 2-0, Chengdu Blades lost to Changsha Ginde 2-1 and Shenzhen Kingway and Jiangsu Shuntian played out a goalless draw. Yesterday the match between Beijing Guoan and Henan Jianye ended in a goalless draw, while Qingdao Zhongneng shared the spoils with Tianjin Teda 1-1.