Middling club Guangzhou R&F FC was able to hold third-running squad Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC to a 1-1 draw at their home ground of Yuexiushan Stadium last Sunday as the 2016 Chinese Super League season comes down to its last few rounds.

Brazilian winger Renatinho opened the scoring for both sides right at the seventh minute of the match with the assist coming from local midfielder Tang Miao, as per Soccerway.

Like Us on Facebook

The hosts were able to take care of the one-point lead until the halftime interval, but Shanghai Shenhua found the equalizer four minutes into the second half with a goal from team captain Giovanni Moreno off a pass by Nigerian forward Obafemi Martins.

Both clubs went scoreless from that point to preserve the tie and a share of a point in the league table, via Sofa Score.

The draw was the Blue Lions' fourth winless performance in their last five matches as they remain at the solo sixth place in the overall standings with 33 points.

Head coach Dragan Stojkovic's side is a comfortable 13 points above the bottom two relegation zone but eight points adrift of the third and final AFC Champions League berth for the next season currently held by Shanghai Shenhua with only six matches to go in their campaign this term.

Shenhua has 41 points at the moment, two points above fourth-running squad and cross-city rivals Shanghai SIPG and eight points behind league leaders and defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao with only six games left in their season as well.

The Flower of Shanghai is on a five-game unbeaten run and could lock the final Champions League spot if they could continue the momentum until season's end.

Only the top three squads at the end of the term will qualify in Asia's premier club continental competitions next season.

Guangzhou will face bottom two squad Changchun Yatai while Shenhua is set to meet Chongqing Lifan in the next round with both games scheduled on Friday. 

TagsChina Football, Chinese Super League, Chinese Super League news, Guangzhou R&F FC, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC