Shandong Luneng won the China Super League despite their last-round away defeat to Changchun Yatai 2-3 while defending champions Dalian Shide whitewashed relegated Chongqing Lifan 6-0 on Sunday.

Failing to win anything in the last five rounds, Changchun Yatai had the best farewell by beating newly-crowned Shandong Luneng to rank fourth eventually in the league with 46 points.

Off a pass from Gao Jian, Du Zhengyu scored the opener in the fifth minute with a header for the home side, before Li Jinyu levelled in the 18th minute.

Five minutes later, Wang Dong tapped in a rebound off a shot by Gao Jian to restore the lead for Yatai and in the 70th minute, Cao Tianbao, a substitute for Gao Jian, enlarged the lead to 3-1 with a clever lop before Li Jinyu found the net again for the visitors in the 87th minute.

Dalian Shide, who had vapored any hope of title defense and even the runners-up place, had their energy totally released on Sunday, beating Chongqing Lifan 6-0 at home as the visitors were already relegated prior to the last rounder.

Once eight-time champions, Dalian reaped no glory this season, only making to the final of the FA Cup where they will face newly-crowned champions Shandong Luneng.

Shanghai Shenhua scored a 2-1 away victory over Liaoning to finish second in the league, while Liaoning have suffered their sixth straight defeat after being assured of their place in the Super League.

Tied with Beijing Guo'an on 49 points earlier, Shanghai Shenhua were eager to take the runners-up place with a victory as they were ahead on win-loss sheet, finding the net twice in the opening two minutes against Liaoning.

While, Beijing Guo'an travelled to Xiamen and had their dream of the runners-up finish tattered in the 8th minute when unmarked Yu Weigen found the net with his close header.

Wang Bo ensured the victory for the home side by adding the second in the 66th minute.

In other last round matches, Shenzhen Jinwei beat Shenyang Jinde 2-0, Shanghai Liancheng powered over Tianjin Kangshifu 3-0 and Qingdao Zhongneng lost to Xi'an Guoji 1-0 at home.

Chongqing Lifan were the only team to be relegated.

(Xinhua News Agency October 23, 2006)