Shandong Luneng stay well clear at the top of the CSL with a 2-1 away win at Qingdao?Zhongneng as China's top flight resumed on Wednesday after a six-week break.

Playmaker Zheng Zhi opened the scoring with his ninth of the league campaign after 13 minutes of the local derby, with Liu Jian bringing the sides level before Zhou Haibin netted on the half hour to seal Shandong's 12th win in 16 games.

Changchun Yatai took advantage of Beijing Guo'an's goalless draw at Shanghai United to move back up to second with a 3-1 home victory over Chongqing Lifan thanks to goals from Du Zhenyu, Elvis Scott and Ma Li An.

Tianjin Teda move within a point of Beijing after a thrilling 4-3 win against Wuhan at the Xinhua Lu Stadium. Lu Yan, Han Yanming, Wu Wei'an and Cao Yang replied to Li Hao's opening goal to give Teda a seemingly unassailable 4-1 lead before Brazilian striker Gilson scored twice in four minutes to set up an exciting finale.

Dalian's chances of a second consecutive CSL title took a further dent as the reigning champions fell to their sixth defeat of the season, losing 2-1 to Dongbei rivals Liaoning FC in Anshan. Zhu Ting put Dalian ahead after 24 minutes but Liaoning were soon level through Guo Hui. China midfielder Zhao Junzhe hit the winner fifteen minutes after the restart to move his side into a mid-table position.

Xi'an Chanba and Shenzhen Kingway remain seventh and eighth respectively after a 2-2 stalemate at Shenzhen Stadium. Second-half goals from Xi'an's foreign pair Ivan Bulat and Vicente overturned Xin Feng's opener for inaugural CSL champions Shenzhen, but Lu Bofei snatched a late equaliser to force a draw.

Shanghai Shenhua play away to Xiamen Lanshi on Thursday.

(Sinosoc.com July 13, 2006)