Just six minutes later, Choi Kyung-rok sent in a clever cross from the right, and Heo Li's header went over the line.
In the 23rd minute, Wu Housheng took a long-distance shot from outside the penalty area, and Bao Yaxiong was able to get the ball into his arms despite the scare.
In the 30th minute, Teixeira broke the ball and sent it straight into the box, but Malelai's one-touch chance ended when he couldn't capitalize on it, and Kim Geng-min intervened in time to stop it.
In the 43rd minute, the field took a turn for the worse when Malelai committed a reckless foul and Kuwaiti referee Ahmed Ali decisively showed a yellow card after a VAR replay.
Near the 45th minute, Heo Li scored for Gwangju, but Jung Ho Yon's foul on Ko Tien Yee went in first, and after Kuwaiti video assistant referee Abdullah Kandari alerted him, referee Ahmad Ali canceled the goal after reviewing the VAR.
In the 48th minute, Andre Luis blasted a heavy shot from outside the box, but missed the goal by a slight angle.
In the 65th minute, Gao Tianyi's set piece flew accurately into the penalty area, Wu Xi headed it into the goal, and Kim Gengmin touched the ball but nearly gave it away.
Shanghai Shenhua missed a good chance to equalize in the 88th minute when Xie Pengfei made too many adjustments and Manafa's shot was successfully deflected.
Technical statistics
Player Ratings
Shanghai Shenhua Lineup
Starting [4-3-1-2]
Goalkeeper: 30 - Bao Yaxiong
Defenders: 27-Chen Jin Yi, 5-Ju Chen Jie, 32-Eddy, 16-Yang Ze Xiang [66 points], 13-Manafa
Midfield: 15-Wu Xi, 33-Wang Haijian [77 pts], 14-Xie Pengfei [66 pts], 17-Gao Tianyi [66 pts], 7-Xu Haoyang
Front: 10 - Teixeira
Forwards: 9-André Luis, 11-Malélé [84 points], 20-Yu Hanchao
Substitutes: 1-Ma Zhen, 41-Zhou Zhengkai, 3-Kim Soon-Kai, 29-Zhou Junchen, 31-Wang Yifan, 36-Fernando, 45-Han Jiawen
Gwangju FC Lineup
Starting [4-4-2]
Goalie: 1 - Kim Geng Min
Defenders: 27-Kim Jin-ho, 15-Byun Jun-soo, 23-Kim Gang-jo, 3-Lee Yeo-gi [79 points], 2-Cho Seong-kwon
Midfielders: 30 - Choi Kyung-rok [79 points], 17 - Jung Ji-yul, 14 - Jung Ho-yeon, 55 - Park Tae, 77 - Oh Ho-seong [57 points], 7 - Asani
Forwards: 10-Lee Hee-kyun [74 pts], 40-Sin Yoo-woo, 18-Hsu Li [74 pts], 20-Lee Ken
Substitutes: 31-Ro Hee-dong, 6-Ahn Young-kyu, 8-Lee Yoo-wai, 22-Lee Sang-ki, 24-Lee Gang, 47-Kim Han-gil, 88-Moon Min-seo
