Wang headed Australian striker Brendon Santalab's cross home after seven minutes before the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Qiu Tianyi was sent off 14 minutes later.

Li Gang powered in a ferocious 40-yard effort in the 27th minute but Chengdu midfielder John Hutchinson received a second yellow card eight minutes before the end as both sides finished the game with a man less.

Wang Kai called Shanghai goalkeeper Wang Dalei into action with a fierce shot just two minutes into the game but the keeper made a superb save to deny him.

Five minutes later, Santalab's cross picked out Wang Kai at the far post and he calmly headed the ball into the net.

Wang Lin then broke clear down the left before delivering a cross from the left for Jiang Kun to fire a looping shot that was palmed out by Chengdu keeper Wang Yi.

Qiu brought down Javier Andres Estupinan Romero with the Colombian clean through to earn a red card and Li scored with a spectacular long-range effort to double the hosts' advantage shortly afterwards.

Li Hongxiang almost put the result beyond doubt for Chengdu four minutes after the hour mark when his 20-yard drive flew just wide following a deflection off a Shanghai defender.

Hutchinson was then sent-off after he received a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Colombian defender Juan Camilo Angulo.

"We failed to play according to our plan today," said Shanghai's Croatian manager Drazen Besek.

"My players lost patience and that cost us the game."

Shanghai are lie 12th in the 16-team league while Chengdu remain bottom but are just three points from safety.

Elsewhere, Henan Jianye got the better of Nanchang Bayi 2-0 while Liaoning Zhongyu and Qingdao Zhongneng played out a goalless draw.