In a game that had all the makings of a thriller, Shanghai Shenhua SVA beat defending league champion Dalian Shide at Hongkou Football Stadium yesterday to regain top position in the 2003 Chinese Division A Soccer League, which resumed after a six-week break.

　　The other local team, Shanghai Cosco Huili, was unable to hold on to its lead in the first half and lost to Qingdao Bright in an away game.

　　After the 15th round, Shenhua topped the league with 28 points, trailed by Dalian and Yunnan Hongta, both of which were one point short.

　　Play in Division A resumed yesterday after it was suspended to allow the national under-23 team to train for the home-and-away Olympic qualifier against Syria earlier this month.

　　Shenhua midfielder Wang Ke opened the scoring for the local team in the 19th minute, powering an assist from Zhang Yuning, this season's newly signed forward from Liaoning Bird, into the net.

　　Serbia and Montenegro import Dejan Petkovic, a former Real Madrid player, helped Shenhua extend the lead shortly after the second half as his long-range shot found the net in the 49th.

　　However, Shide, seven-time champions in the past nine years, came back with two goals from Hao Haidong, its veteran striker, and Bulgarian forward Zoran Jankovic, adding to the tension at the packed stadium.

　　Zhang Yuning's resolve eventually added luster to the game.

　　Zhang fired a shot to beat An Qi, China's U-23 team goalkeeper in the 73rd, which proved the decisive goal as Shenhua held on to seal a well-deserved victory.

　　"Since we had already scored twice, I firmly believed that we could score again once they had leveled," Zhang revealed.

　　The striker added that he could have gone one better had he been able to find the net when he had only the goalie to beat in the 69th minute.

　　"Everybody played well," said Wu Jingui, Shenhua's coach. "In particular, the U-23 national team players were in good form (after the Syria games)."

　　Shenhua has five national U-23 players. In the late game, Cosco defender Cheng Liang took advantage of captain Shen Si's free-kick in the 21st, helping the visitors take the lead.

　　However, Qingdao's constant pressure paid off in the second half with two goals in the 79th and 83rd minutes.

　　With yesterday's loss, Cosco is two points behind Shenhua but level with Shenzhen Jianlibao.

　　In other games, Shenyang Jinde drew with Shenzhen 0-0; Yunnan Hongta beat Shandong Luneng 1-0; Sichuan Guancheng thrashed Shaanxi Guoli 5-1; Liaoning Bird defeated Beijing Hyundai 1-0; and Tianjin Taida won Bayi Xiangtan 3-1.

　　Shenhua won't play next week in the 16th round of the 15-team league while Cosco will meet Chongqing Lifan which rest in the 15th round.