Recovering from another failure in the Sydney Olympic qualifying campaign, Chinese football fans turned their eyes back to the domestic fields and found the title race a two-horse run between Liaoning Fushun and Shandong Luneng when the league re-opened on Sunday.

Liaoning had a big blow for their first league title after promotion as they were held to a goalless draw by Chongqing Longxin at home in Shenyang, while the closest crown chasers Shandong drilled in four goals to thrash Shenzhen Ping'an 4-0 at home in Jinan.

The title contest is running fierce as much as possible as Liaoning, champions of last season's second division league, managed only a one-point lead at 45 points over Shandong with two rounds left in the season.

Shandong will travel to Shenyang for the next match against Shenyang Haishi, and hold a home game against Wuhan Heart K, two from the bottom three teams on the standings. While Liaoning had two away ties against Sichuan Quanxing, currently third, and Beijing Guo'an, sixth on the standings, respectively.

There are also title stealers, Sichuan, who had a fat chance to claim the title for the first time with 41 points after they edged out Beijing 1-0 in Beijing.

Tianjin Taida hammered the last nail to crashed Wuhan's hope with a 4-0 win. Wuhan have collected just 16 points and are set to be relegated to the lower league next season.

But the other relegated team is yet to be decided as both Shenyang and Qingdao Hainiu, 12th and 13th in the 14-team table with 24 points respectively, clinched away victories on Sunday.

Shenyang handled Jilin Aodong 3-0 while Qingdao ousted Shanghai Shenhua 2-0. Shenyang led on goal difference.

Defending champions Dalian Wanda and runners-up Guangzhou Songri had just as high as the sixth place in sight after a 1-1 draw between the two sliding teams, both struggling at the other end of the standings. (Xinhua)