Yang Shuai header lifts Shanghai Shenhua past Tampines Rovers

Shanghai Shenhua opened its 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two campaign with a 2-1 victory over Singapore's Tampines Rovers on Thursday, as substitute Yang Shuai headed a second-half winner in their Group G encounter.

Shenhua entered the match with a depleted squad, with Wu Xi, Zhu Chenjie and Yang Haoyu away on Asian Games duty.

Several other regulars were unavailable through injury or suspension.

Tampines threatened early and nearly broke through in the eighth minute, but Yang Zexiang recovered to make a crucial intervention.

Shenhua soon began to create opportunities of its own, with Liu Chengyu sending an effort into the side netting.

The host took the lead in the 19th minute through Xu Haoyang.

The 27-year-old drove forward before firing a low effort from outside the area beyond goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari to put Shenhua 1-0 up.

Liu had an opportunity to double the advantage six minutes later, only for Tampines defender Raoul Suhaimi to block his close-range attempt.

The visitors responded in the 33rd minute when Faris Ramli cut inside and saw his effort take a deflection before beating Shenhua goalkeeper Xue Qinghao to level the score at 1-1.

Tampines threatened again shortly afterwards through Tsuzuku Higashikawa, whose effort was kept out by Xue.

At the other end, Shenhua pushed to regain the lead before halftime, with Liu denied from close range and Li Songyi seeing a header saved.

Shenhua head coach Vladan Milojevic made a change at the break, sending on Yang Shuai for Li, and the substitute made the difference in the 62nd minute.

Gao Tianyi regained possession after his initial effort was blocked and lifted the ball back into the middle, where Yang rose to head home from close range and restore Shenhua's lead.

The host remained dangerous after going 2-1 up.