Match news:

Georgios Samaras started the match on the left of midfield.

City had the best of the opening exchanges, but after just three minutes Stephen Jordan tripped Ramirez on the edge of the penalty area. However the Blues’ wall held firm at the resultant free kick.

The seventh minute saw City’s first proper chance, Corradi heading a Sinclair cross just wide. The rutted playing surface was keeping passing to a minimum but City were adapting well as the game progressed.

As the first half continued, City began to exercise more control over the game. Corradi was a constant threat to the home side and on 20 minutes his header from a Sinclair cross was tipped round the post by the Shenhua keeper.

Just a minute later the Italian international was harshly penalised for his challenge on the keeper after he had risen to meet a Barton cross.

Barton had been booked on 18 minutes for an innocuous foul, but Shanghai’s former Celtic defender Du Wei was also cautioned for a studs-high challenge on Vassell.

City looked potent from set-pieces, often supplied by Joey Barton.

The Blues took the lead on 35 minutes thanks to great work on the right from Corradi. The 30-year-old shook off a defender to cross to Georgios Samaras, who fired home with his left foot at the far post.

Second half:

On 53 minutes a crunching Ben Thatcher tackle won the ball but put Shenhua’s Yang Chungang out of the game, the City man receiving a yellow card for the challenge.

Joey Barton’s crossfield ball on the hour was flicked on by Corradi to Darius Vassell, but the England striker’s touch was poor and Shenhua regathered themselves.

The game slipped into chaos when after two legitimate substitutions, Reyna for Hamann and Dickov for Vassell, City were prevented from bringing on Sibierski because he was wearing a wristband!

Then on 78 minutes, Ben Thatcher received his marching orders after being shown the yellow card once more following an off-the-ball incident with Shenhua’s Sun Ji, despite appearing to have been kicked by the Chinese player.

With eight minutes left, Carsten Jancker had Shenhua’s best chance but failed to connect to the ball when only six yards out.