Shandong Luneng and Liaoning Fushun, last season's champion and runners-up respectively, both suffered surprise defeats in the opening round of the Chinese first division soccer league on Sunday.
The two sides were both beaten by two teams just promoted from the second division league, with Luneng losing to Yunnan Hongta 1-0 and Fushun to Xiamen Xiaxin 3-0.
Luneng, also champion of the Chinese Football Association Cup, launched all-out attacks after the start but left their defensive line vulnerable.
Hongta had quite a few golden chances but scored the winner only five minutes before the final whistle.
Luneng's Yugoslav coach Slobodan Santrac said: "Our players were pressed too hard mentally at home. We should pay more attention to our defense."
Hongta's coach Qi Wusheng, a former head coach of Chinese national team, said the victory was precious enough to boost their confidence.
"We have made full preparation for the game and the result proved our tactics very successful," Qi said.
Chinese national coach Bora Milutinovic made a special trip to Luneng's home Ji'nan to watch the game. But he made no comment about the defeat of his fellow Yugoslav Santrac.
Fushun, who surrendered the league champion to Luneng after a tight competition last season, was left astonished with the result in Xiamen, which was some 2,000 kilometers away from their home.
Xiaxin's captain Gao Yuyong opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, former Luneng striker Tang Xiaocheng made it 2-0 in the 67th and Zhuang Guanghui anchored the win in the 88th.
"Fushun is stronger than us, but I told the players that we had no choice but to try our best," said Xiaxin's head coach Chi Shangbin, who had coach Dalian Wanda to four league champions before moving to Xiamen.
In the day's other matches, Shenzhen Ping'an played to a goalless draw with Sichuan Quanxing, Qingdao Hainiu tied Shanghai Shenhua 1-1, Dalian Shide routed Beijing Guo'an 2-0, Tianjin Taida defeated Jilin Aodong 2-0 and Shenyang Haishi was held 0-0 by Chongqing Longxin.
Following are the standings of the Chiense first division soccer league after the first round competition (tabulated under games played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, against and points):
Shandong Luneng and Liaoning Fushun, last season's champion and runners-up respectively, both suffered surprise defeats in the opening round of the Chinese first division soccer league on Sunday.
