Shanghai Shenhua secured a 4-1 victory over Henan in the Super League's 23rd round at Shanghai Stadium on Friday. The hosts, who sit eighth in the table with 31 points from 26 matches, came from behind to take all three points. Henan, twelve points adrift in twelfth place after 25 games, could only manage a consolation goal.
Henan struck first when Zhong Yihao found the net in the fifth minute. Shanghai responded before the break with Rafael Ratao scoring twice in stoppage time, first in the 45th minute and then again two minutes later. L. Asue added a third for the hosts in the 56th minute, and the visitors' hopes were further dented when Gao Tianyi pulled one back in the 71st minute.
Saulo Mineiro completed the scoring in the 83rd minute to seal the result. The hosts made several changes during the second half, bringing on Chan Shinichi, He Chao, Xu Haoyang, and L. Asue in quick succession. Rafael Ratao was also replaced in the 74th minute, while Henan introduced Pedro Maranhao and Wang Shangyuan in the 86th minute.
The statistics told a story of unbalanced dominance. Shanghai controlled 40 per cent possession and created five big chances compared to Henan's two. The hosts registered 15 shots with seven on target, while the visitors had nine attempts with only four on target. Henan had more total attacks at 111 but struggled to convert them into meaningful opportunities.
The result means Shanghai remain in the upper half of the table, while Henan continue their struggle in the lower reaches. The hosts have won two of their last five matches, including a 4-1 victory over Qingdao Jonoon earlier this month. Henan have won only one of their last five games, with their last victory coming in a 5-1 thrashing of Qingdao Jonoon in mid-July.