The victory at a wet Coca Cola Sports Stadium lifts Shenhua into fifth place in the standings, five points adrift of leaders Changchun Yatai who came from a goal down to beat Henan 3-1 at home on Saturday thanks to a hat-trick by Ivory Coast international Guillaume Dah Zadi.

The hosts, formerly known as Shanghai International before relocating to Xi'an in the Shaanxi Province last year, dominated the early stages as midfielder Wang Yun sent a free-kick just wide after three minutes.

Shenhua's China international Sun Xiang was on hand to clear Wan Houliang's goalbound header off the line from Wang's inviting free-kick after 21 minutes.

Despite the early pressure, the visitors struck four minutes later as Uruguayan striker Sergio Blanco backheeled a cross from Sun Xiang into the path of compatriot Alonso, who poked home from close range.

Shenhua newboy Hamilton Ricard, who scored the opening goal in the 3-1 victory over J.League champions Urawa Reds in the A3 Champions Cup on Wednesday, and Shaanxi's Wan were booked with 30 minutes on the watch after clashing.

Former Middlesbrough striker Ricard, signed by Shenhua at the start of June following a successful trial, was replaced by Zheng Kewei at the break.

Wan received his marching orders seven minuets after the restart after collecting a second yellow card for diving before Shenhua substitute Wang, who replaced the injured Blanco just before the break, headed home a cross from fellow replacement Zheng.

"Our players got tired after the A3 Champions Cup, but we got lucky today as our opponents were tough," said Shenhua head coach Osvaldo Gimenez.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Changsha Ginde edged out Wuhan Huanghelou 1-0 courtesy of a late goal from Cameroon international Oumarou Aboubakar, while Qingdao Zhongneng claimed a 2-0 victory against Shenzhen Kingway.