Cedric Bakambu of Beijing Guoan (left) passes the ball during the 19th round match of the 2020 season of the Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Suzhou Division between Beijing Guoan and Shanghai SIPG, in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu province, Nov 7, 2020. (LI BO / XINHUA)

SUZHOU - Beijing Guoan chalked up a 2-1 victory over Shanghai SIPG in the first leg of their playoffs for the third and fourth place in the Chinese Super League here on Saturday.

Beijing broke the deadlock in the 26th minute, as Zhang Xizhe hit an accurate cross to winger Wang Gang. Wang dribbled passed several defenders in the box and passed the ball to Cedric Bakambu who followed up with an easy goal.

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Hulk of Shanghai SIPG (front, second left) controls the ball during the 19th round match of the 2020 season of the Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Suzhou Division between Beijing Guoan and Shanghai SIPG, in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu province, Nov 7, 2020. (XU CHANG / XINHUA)

In the 51st minute, Beijing doubled their advantage with a rapid counter-attack, when Alan Douglas collected a pass from Zhang and hit a low drive which was denied by goalkeeper Chen Wei, but Chi Zhongguo seized the second chance with a tap-in.

Although a header from Li Shenglong opened the scoring for Shanghai in the 90th minute, it was too little and too late. The two sides will face each other again on Wednesday.