Surging contenders Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC (6-3-7, 25 points) crushed struggling team Changchun Yatai FC (3-9-4, 13 points), 3-0, at the Hongkou Stadium on Sunday to keep themselves in the hunt for the three AFC Champions League berths next season as the 2016 Chinese Super League season moves past its halfway mark.

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Local defender Li Jianbin scored the opening goal at the 51st minute off an assist from teammate Cao Yunding after a goalless first half for both squads, Shanghai Daily reported.

Former Chelsea striker Demba Ba then netted Greenland's second goal, his 14th of the current term as he leads all scorers in the China top flight, at the 67th, this time from a pass by defender Xiong Fei.

Nigerian forward Obafemi Martins sealed the win in injury time as he converted a cross from Ba, completing the three-goal haul of head coach Gregorio Manzano's men, as per Soccerway.

With the win, Shanghai Shenhua successfully bounced back from their previous controversial 1-2 loss to capital city team Beijing Guoan FC as they also earned their eight unbeaten performance in their last nine games.

The Flower of Shanghai also retained their fifth spot in the overall standings as they are now only five points below third-placed team Hebei China Fortune, who presently holds the third and last AFC Champions League berth for the next term with still 14 rounds to go in the country's first division association football competitions.

Shanghai is tied on points with sixth-placed squad Henan Jianye, but they have a superior goal difference of +12 as compared to the latter's +2, so the team regains fifth place in the league table.

Meanwhile, Changchun Yatai dropped to the bottom two relegation area after the loss, their fourth winless match in their last five outings. They were able to beat Henan in their previous game, 1-0, at home, but suffered another shut out in this match versus Shanghai Shenhua. It was the third time in their last five matches that they failed to score.  

TagsChina Football, Chinese Super League, Chinese Super League 2016, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC, Changchun Yatai FC