Dalian Yingbo win Chinese Super League title after Chengdu Rongcheng collapse

Dalian Yingbo have won their first Chinese Super League title after overtaking Chengdu Rongcheng on the final day of the season.

Chengdu had led the standings for 29 consecutive rounds but surrendered the championship to their rivals in the final round. Both teams finished level on 52 points, with Dalian Yingbo taking the title on their superior head-to-head record.

The result marked a dramatic end to a campaign in which Chengdu had once held a 12-point advantage over Dalian. However, their challenge unravelled during the final five rounds, when they drew once and lost four consecutive matches.

Those results allowed Dalian to complete a remarkable turnaround and move above the side that had occupied top spot for almost the entire season. Chengdu’s failure to secure the title on the final day brought an abrupt end to their long period at the summit.

Dalian, who were founded in 2021, completed the decisive run with five successive victories in the final five rounds. Their championship also secures qualification for next season’s AFC Champions League Elite.

The title is the first in Dalian Yingbo’s history, while Chengdu Rongcheng were left to reflect on a late collapse after controlling the league for 29 rounds.

The Chinese Super League season began with varying points deductions imposed on nine clubs. The penalties formed part of China’s anti-corruption campaign, which followed allegations of match-fixing.