Beijing Guoan crush Qingdao to book a spot for CSL championship race

Cedric Bakambu of Beijing Guoan scores the fifth goal for the team during the game against Qingdao Huanghai in Kunshan, east China's Jiangsu Province, September 22, 2020. /VCG

Beijing Guoan booked a spot in the race for the Chinese Super League (CSL) title after completing a 5-1 victory against Qingdao Huanghai on Tuesday.

Guoan had suffered criticism after fumbling a 3-0 lead against Qingdao, suffering instead a 3-3 tie in the first leg.

In Tuesday's match, Guoan were up by three goals before the interval, with goals from Yu Yang, Jonathan Viera and Fernando Lucas Martins.

Qingdao went one player down eight minutes after the break as Yin Yaji collected his second yellow card.

Viera bagged his second with a stunning free kick in the 56th minute, before Cedric Bakambu added the fifth in the 85th minute.

Zhang Yuning of Beijing Guoan in action during the game against Qingdao Huanghai, a 12th-round match for the 2020-2021 Chinese Super League in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, September 22, 2020. /VCG

Qingdao scored the consolation goal from Denis Popovic's penalty in the dying minutes.

The only down side for the capital-based team was that Renato Augusto limped off with injury as the Brazilian was suspected of suffering a muscular problem.

Guoan, having secured a place in the top four in Group B, now sit second with 25 points.

In the game that followed, Chongqing Dangdai Lifan beat Wuhan Zall 1-0, securing third place with two rounds in the first stage remaining.

(With input from agencies)