Shandong Luneng continued its red hot start in the Super League by rattling visiting Qingdao Zhongneng 3-1, its 2nd win in as many games this season.

Shandong now tops the table with two other teams - Tianjin Teda and Chongqing Lifan, but has a slight edge on goal difference. Tianjin pounded out a 3-0 victory over Wuhan Huanghelou yesterday while Chongqing scraped past Changchun Yatai 1-0.

Following the leading pack in the standings is Shanghai Liancheng, the league minnow who raised a few eyebrows yesterday with a last-gasp goal which saw it beat Beijing Hyundai 2-1 in the capital.

"We have surprised everybody, including ourselves," said Liancheng manager Jose Carlos De Oliveira, who took over only three months ago at a team that finished 11th last season.

In the other game yesterday, International Xi'an was held to a goalless draw by visiting Shenzhen Kingway.

Another local team Shanghai Shenhua SVA was held to a 2-2 draw at home by league newcomer Xiamen Lions on Saturday with the visitors scoring a late equalizer. Both teams ended the match with 10 men as Shenhua's Sun Xiang and Xiamen's Meng Yao were given the marching orders minutes before the break for a goalmouth spat.

Shenhua manager Wu Jingui blamed the defeat on bad officiating.

"When I saw the tape of the game last night, I was shocked by how many mistakes he made," Wu told the Oriental Sports Daily, referring to the Korean referee. "I know he is one of the referee imports invited by the Chinese Football Association to help better rule the league games. But maybe the CFA needs more scrutiny next time."

The CFA has brought in more foreign referees this season to improve the officiating.

Also on Saturday, defending champion Dalian Shide opened its campaign in a familiar manner. The eight-time domestic champion romped to a 2-0 win over troubled Liaoning FC.

(Shanghai Daily March 20, 2006)