Defender Wu Xi's early header gave Shanghai Shenhua a hard-fought 1-0 win over Dalian Shide in the Chinese Super League.

Wu headed Cao Yunding's cross home just ten minutes into the game at Shanghai Hongkou Stadium. And while both sides created several scoring chances in the remaining 80 minutes, neither could find another breakthrough.

After a quiet start, Cao delivered a long cross to Wu who evaded the offside trap to head past onrushing goalkeeper Sun Shoubo. Shanghai went close to a second goal seven minutes later when Wu's fellow Chinese international Feng Renliang outpaced two defenders before curling a shot which Sun kept out with a reflex save.

Feng created another chance just a minute before the half-time break, when his 30-yard effort flicked off the crossbar.

Dalian were the better side in the second period, forcing Shanghai to defend desperately. Bulgarian forward Martin Kamburov squandered a golden opportunity 13 minutes before the final whistle, clipping a 30-yard free-kick against the post.

It's safe to say that we are in the better position to avoid relegation.
Zhu Jiong, Nanchang manager

The result put Shanghai on 33 points in 11th place, while Dalian are two points and two places behind them, with the once-mighty pair having only just staved off the threat of relegation. 

With 28 rounds of matches played, and two remaining, Shanghai and Dalian have been saved by the poor form of the teams beneath them. Shenzhen Kingway and Chengdu Blades are both on 23 points, five points adrift of 14th-placed Nanchang Bayi.

Nanchang clinch vital points
Nanchang clinched a much-needed three points at Shaanxi Province Stadium today, beating Shaanxi Baorong 3-1.

Youngster Yang Chen fired the visitors ahead after 11 minutes, before Zhang Chenglin responded in the 25th minute with a header. Brazilian Johnny Meg do Nascimento Osorio restored Nanchang's lead four minutes into the second half before Lang Zheng scored an insurance goal 18 minutes before the end of the game.

"It's safe to say that we are in the better position to avoid relegation," said Nanchang manager Zhu Jiong. "I told my players to go all out for another victory so that we don't have to face a do-or-die situation in the last round."