John Aloisi’s Chengdu Collapse: 12-Point Lead Disappears as Dalian Win Chinese Super League Title

John Aloisi’s Chengdu Rongcheng suffered a dramatic collapse on the final day of the Chinese Super League season, surrendering a 12-point advantage and missing out on the championship after losing their fourth consecutive match. Dalian Yingbo completed a remarkable comeback, defeating Tianjin Tiger 3-1 to claim the title on head-to-head record.

Chengdu entered the final round with their championship hopes still in their hands, but a 3-2 defeat against Shandong Taishan proved costly. Dalian, meanwhile, secured their fifth consecutive victory to finish level on 52 points with Aloisi’s side and take the trophy.

Chengdu Rongcheng Lose Their Final Four Games to Surrender 12-Point Lead

Chengdu’s late-season collapse became one of the biggest stories of the Chinese Super League campaign. Aloisi’s team had established a 12-point lead earlier in the season, putting themselves in a strong position to compete for the championship.

However, their form deteriorated at the worst possible moment. Chengdu collected just one point from their final five matches, including four consecutive defeats that allowed Dalian Yingbo to close the gap and eventually overtake them.

The title race went down to the final day, with Dalian needing both a victory against Tianjin Tiger and a Chengdu defeat against Shandong Taishan. Both results went their way, completing an extraordinary turnaround in the championship race.

Despite finishing level on 52 points, Dalian secured the title through a superior head-to-head record. The club had recorded two victories over Chengdu during the season, including an important win in the penultimate round of matches.

Shandong Taishan Beat Chengdu 3-2 in Dramatic Final-Day Match

Chengdu travelled to Jinan knowing that a positive result was essential to their championship ambitions. However, Shandong Taishan quickly put them under pressure by scoring twice in the opening 23 minutes.

Raphael Merkies opened the scoring in the 15th minute before Guilherme Madruga doubled Shandong’s advantage eight minutes later. The early goals left Chengdu facing a difficult task as Dalian’s title hopes depended on their rivals dropping points.

Felipe Silva gave Chengdu renewed hope by pulling one goal back with seven minutes remaining in the first half. His strike reduced the deficit and kept the visitors in contention heading into the break.

Shandong restored their two-goal advantage in the 63rd minute when Cryzan found the net. With Chengdu facing the prospect of losing the championship, Wellington Silva scored in the 79th minute to make it 3-2 and set up a tense closing period.

Chengdu pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but time was running out. Wang Ziming came close to rescuing a point when his close-range effort was deflected over the crossbar in the third minute of stoppage time.

The final whistle confirmed Chengdu’s defeat and ended their hopes of lifting the Chinese Super League trophy.

Dalian Yingbo Complete Comeback to Win Chinese Super League Title

While Chengdu struggled against Shandong, Dalian Yingbo took care of their own responsibility at home against Tianjin Tiger. The victory secured their fifth consecutive league win and completed a remarkable turnaround in the title race.

Dalian started strongly in front of their supporters at the packed Dalian Suoyuwan Football Stadium. Yang Mingrui gave the home side the lead in the fifth minute, providing an early boost as the team chased the championship.

Tianjin responded after the interval, with Xadas converting a penalty in the 50th minute to make the score 1-1. The equaliser briefly put pressure on Dalian, who still needed to secure all three points to keep their title hopes alive.

Liao Jintao restored Dalian’s advantage with 20 minutes remaining, scoring from the edge of the penalty area. His goal put the hosts back in front and brought them closer to completing their comeback.

Huang Shan then sealed the victory in the fourth minute of stoppage time, scoring from close range to make it 3-1. The goal sparked celebrations inside the stadium as Dalian confirmed their championship triumph.

How Dalian Overcame Chengdu’s 12-Point Advantage

Dalian’s title victory was built on a strong finish to the campaign, while Chengdu’s results went in the opposite direction. The contrast between the two teams became particularly clear during the closing stages of the season.

Chengdu had once held a 12-point advantage but managed only one point from their final five matches. Dalian took advantage of that poor run by winning five consecutive games, turning a seemingly difficult title challenge into a championship-winning campaign.

Their two head-to-head victories over Chengdu also proved decisive. Because both clubs finished on 52 points, those results gave Dalian the advantage in the final standings.

The championship therefore came down to more than the final-day results. Dalian’s success in their direct meetings with Chengdu ultimately separated the two sides after an extraordinary finish to the season.

John Aloisi’s Chengdu Campaign Ends in Historic Collapse

The result represents a painful ending to the campaign for Australian coach John Aloisi and Chengdu Rongcheng. After spending much of the season at the top of the table, the club failed to maintain its advantage when the championship was within reach.

Chengdu’s late-season decline was particularly striking because they had appeared to be in control of the title race. Their inability to collect points during the final matches allowed Dalian to build momentum and put pressure on the league leaders.

The campaign also began under unusual circumstances. Chengdu were among the few Chinese Super League clubs to start the season on zero points, while several rival teams began with negative totals following points deductions.

Those deductions affected the early league standings, creating an unusual starting position for the competition. Chengdu nevertheless established a substantial lead during the campaign, making their eventual failure to win the title even more remarkable.

Chinese Super League Final Standings: Chengdu and Dalian Finish Level

The final-day results left Chengdu Rongcheng and Dalian Yingbo level on 52 points. However, Dalian’s superior head-to-head record meant they finished ahead and claimed the championship.

• Dalian Yingbo: 52 points, Chinese Super League champions after winning the head-to-head comparison.
• Chengdu Rongcheng: 52 points, finished behind Dalian despite holding a 12-point lead earlier in the season.
• Dalian’s final-day result: 3-1 victory over Tianjin Tiger.
• Chengdu’s final-day result: 2-3 defeat against Shandong Taishan.

The final standings highlighted how dramatically the title race changed during the closing weeks. Dalian’s winning run and Chengdu’s sequence of defeats ultimately decided the championship.

What Went Wrong for Chengdu Rongcheng?

Chengdu’s title hopes disappeared because of their inability to maintain results during the final stretch of the season. A 12-point advantage provided a significant cushion, but their return of just one point from the last five matches allowed Dalian to make up the difference.

The final-day defeat against Shandong exposed the pressure surrounding the championship race. Chengdu conceded twice early, fought back through goals from Felipe Silva and Wellington Silva, but could not find the equaliser needed to keep their title hopes alive.

Dalian, in contrast, continued their winning momentum and delivered when the championship depended on it. Their 3-1 victory over Tianjin, combined with Chengdu’s defeat, completed a comeback that few would have expected when the gap stood at 12 points.

Conclusion: Dalian Celebrate as Aloisi’s Chengdu Miss Out

Dalian Yingbo’s Chinese Super League triumph marks a remarkable conclusion to a season that saw the title race change dramatically in its final stages. Five consecutive victories helped them recover from Chengdu’s substantial lead and finish level on points with their rivals.

For John Aloisi and Chengdu Rongcheng, the final-day defeat against Shandong Taishan brought a disappointing end to a campaign in which they had once looked firmly in control. Their four consecutive losses and just one point from five matches proved decisive.

Dalian ultimately took advantage of Chengdu’s collapse, with their head-to-head record securing the championship. The result leaves Aloisi’s side to reflect on how a 12-point advantage slipped away during the most important period of the season.