Streaking club Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC extended its winning streak to four games after a close 2-1 win over reeling team Liaoning Whowin FC in a 2016 Chinese Super League match held at the Hongkou Stadium on Saturday.

The visitors were actually able to break the 0-0 deadlock first at the 28th minute with a goal from Australian center back Michael Thwaite from a pass by fellow defender Zheng Tao to put a scare in head coach Gregorio Manzano's squad in an attempt to continue their winning run, Xinhuanet reported.

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Greenland team captain Giovanni Moreno was able to find the equalizer two minutes before the halftime interval, though, off an assist from midfielder Qin Sheng to ease the pressure for the hosts.

The game looked headed to a tolerable draw for Shenhua, but Demba Ba's fill-in, Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins, netted the winner from Cao Yunding's assist with ten minutes before full time to snatch the three points away from head coach Ma Lin's boys, via Soccerway.

With the loss, Liaoning suffered their third straight winless game to fall to the 13th spot of the 16-team China top flight table with 26 points, only six points above the bottom two relegation area currently occupied by Shijiazhuang Ever Bright and Changchun Yatai.

Meanwhile, the win was the fourth consecutive one for the Flower of Shanghai after beating powerhouse clubs Shandong Luneng Taishan (1-0), Jiangsu Suning (3-2), and defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao (2-1).

The victory also kept Shenhua at third place in the overall standings with 40 points, two points clear off fourth-running team and cross-city rivals Shanghai SIPG. The team is also 12 points below the league-leading Southern China Tigers.

Coach Manzano's side is temporarily holding the third and final AFC Champions League spot for next season with seven games remaining in their campaign this season. Only the top three teams at the end of the term will qualify in the said premier Asian club continental tournament.

TagsChina Football, Chinese Super League, Chinese Super League news, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC, Liaoning Whowin FC