Choi Kyung-rok skillfully crossed the ball to the right in the sixth minute, and Heo Li headed a shot on goal, but regrettably skimmed the bottom line.
Immediately in the 23rd minute, Wu Housheng unleashed a stunning long-distance shot from outside the penalty area, and Bao Yaxiong reacted swiftly to hold the soccer ball securely.
In the 30th minute, Teixeira succeeded in breaking the ball and then directing it in, but Malele's one-touch chance was not seized, and Kim Geng-min lent a helping hand in time to defuse the crisis.
As the game progressed into the 43rd minute, Malelai inadvertently stepped on an opposing player during a heated confrontation and Kuwaiti referee Ahmed Ali, aided by VAR, firmly showed the yellow card.
Heo Li scored for Gwangju in the 45+4th minute, but the goal was disallowed when Jung Ho Yoon fouled Ko Tien Yi and Kuwaiti video assistant referee Abdullah Kandari alerted referee Ahmad Ali.
In the 48th minute, André Luis took a hard shot from outside the box, but the ball went just wide of the line.
At the sixty-fifth minute mark, Gao Tianyi fired a set-piece that was headed home by Wu Xi, and Kim Gengmin came close to giving the ball away.
Towards the end of the match, Shanghai Shenhua missed a good chance to equalize, Xie Pengfei adjusted too much and Manafa's shot was successfully deflected.
Technical statistics and player ratings are detailed below:
Shanghai Shenhua Lineup: Starting [4-3-1-2], Goalkeeper: 30 Bao Yaxiong, Defenders: 27 Chen Jinyi, 5 Zhu Chenjie, 32 Aidi, 16 Yang Zexiang [66 pts], 13 Manafa, Midfielders: 15 Wu Xi, 33 Wang Haijian [77 pts], 17 Gao Tianyi [66 pts], 7 Xu Hao Yang, Forward: 10 Teixeira, Strikers: 9 Andrea Luis, 11-Malelay [84 pts], 20-Yu Hanchao, Substitutes: 1-Ma Zhen, 41-Zhou Zhengkai, 3-Jin Shunkai, 29-Zhou Junchen, 31-Wang Yifan, 36-Fernando, 45-Han Jiawen.
Gwangju FC lineup: Start [4-4-2], Goalkeeper: 1-Kim Geng Min, Defenders: 27-Kim Jin Hao, 15-Byun Joon Soo, 23-Kim Trail Jae, 3-Lee Ryeo Ki [79 pts.], 2-Cho Seong Kwon, Midfielders: 30-Choi Kyung Rok [79 pts.], 17-Jung Ji-Yul, 14-Jung Ho-Yeon, 55-Park Tae, 77-Woo Hoo-Seong [57 pts.], 7-Asani, Forward: 10-Lee Hee-Kyun [74 pts. [74 points], 40-Sin Yew Woo, 18-Heo Yuri [74 points], 20-Lee Ken, Substitutes: 31-Ro Hee Dong, 6-Ahn Young Kyu, 8-Lee Yoo et al, 22-Lee Sang Ki, 24-Lee Gang, 47-Kim Han-gil, 88-Moon Min Seo.
