Dalian Yingbo claim Super League title after Chengdu’s final-day defeat

AI-generated illustration.

Dalian Yingbo claimed their first Chinese Super League title on Sunday, 8 November, beating Tianjin Jinmen Tiger 3–1 while Chengdu Rongcheng lost 3–2 at Shandong Taishan. Both contenders finished on 52 points, with Dalian taking the championship because they had won both league meetings between the sides.

Yang Mingrui put the hosts ahead after five minutes at Suoyuwan Stadium, finishing a cross from Lü Zhuoyi. Tianjin levelled through a Xadas penalty early in the second half, leaving Dalian needing another goal to regain the advantage in the title race.

Liao Jintao supplied it in the 70th minute, driving home after Tianjin failed to clear a corner. Huang Shan added the third in stoppage time, converting from close range after Bi Jinhao headed the ball into his path.

Dalian also needed Liu Weiguo to protect their lead. The goalkeeper kept out a header from Guilherme Schettine, and Wang Qiuming put the rebound over. Earlier, Frank Acheampong had missed a promising opportunity on the counter-attack shortly after the interval.

Chengdu trailed 2–0 at Shandong before Felipe Silva pulled one back. Cryzan then restored Shandong’s two-goal lead. Wellington Silva made it 3–2 in the 79th minute, but Chengdu could not find the equaliser that would have secured the title.

The result completed five consecutive wins for Dalian. Chengdu had needed only one point from their final four fixtures to become champions, but instead lost all four. Neither contender had received a points deduction at the start of a season in which nine of the league’s 16 clubs began with penalties.