Dalian Yingbo win Chinese title as Chengdu surrender 12-point lead

Dalian Yingbo won the Chinese Super League title after beating Tianjin Tiger 3-1 on the final day, while Chengdu Rongcheng lost 3-2 to Shandong Taishan. According to BBC Sport, the results left both clubs on 52 points, with Dalian taking the championship because of their superior head-to-head record. Chengdu had previously held a 12-point advantage.

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The decisive results completed a reversal over the closing five matches. Chengdu collected just one point during that stretch and finished with four consecutive defeats. Dalian, by contrast, won all five games to take the maximum 15 points. Their run included a 1-0 victory over Chengdu in the penultimate fixture, a direct meeting that also formed part of the head-to-head advantage that ultimately separated the teams.

Despite those setbacks, John Aloisi's Chengdu side entered the final day needing only a draw to become champions. Instead, their match against Shandong quickly became a recovery mission. Raphael Merkies and Guilherme Madruga scored within the opening 25 minutes to establish a 2-0 lead, leaving Chengdu with a two-goal deficit before they could secure the point they needed.

Felipe Silva pulled a goal back for Chengdu, but Cryzan then scored to put Shandong two goals ahead again. Wellington Silva reduced the deficit once more with 11 minutes remaining, bringing the score to 3-2 and keeping Chengdu's hopes alive. They could not add the equaliser, however, and the defeat left Dalian able to claim the title with a home win.

Dalian's own match also featured a setback before the championship was secured. Yang Mingrui opened the scoring inside five minutes, but Xadas equalised for Tianjin from the penalty spot in the 50th minute. With the score at 1-1, Dalian still needed another goal to obtain the victory required to take advantage of Chengdu's defeat.

Liao Jintao restored Dalian's lead with 20 minutes remaining. Huang Shan then scored from close range in stoppage time to complete the 3-1 win and confirm the title. BBC Sport's account detailed how Dalian's perfect finish and Chengdu's losing sequence brought the clubs level on points, leaving their meetings with each other to decide the championship.