Guangzhou Evergrande's run of seven consecutive Chinese Super League titles was snapped on Wednesday night as Shanghai SIPG defeated Beijing Renhe during the penultimate match of the 2018 season to claim their first ever championship.
After a rough stretch in April and May, SIPG are on a 14-game unbeaten streak dating back to August 11.
This season is Evergrande's first with no title in the CSL, CFA Cup or AFC Champions League since they were established.
SIPG reach the semifinals of the 2017 AFC Champions League, Japan, October 18, 2017. /VCG Photo
Evergrande's fall
The problem for the south China team lies in their main lineup's advanced age and declining ambition.
Evergrande's average age is 29 years old, making the club one of the oldest in the CSL. While Zheng Zhi, 38, is a perennial starter, 24-year-old Xu Xin has only four appearances.
And the 0-2 loss to the almost-relegated Chongqing SWM on Wednesday suggested their mental fatigue. Evergrande's current lineup is mainly comprised of players who won the 2013 AFC Champions League, and keeping a competitive edge may be a challenge for a group that has experiences so much success in their careers.
SIPG's rise
With an average age of 23, SIPG are the youngest team in the CSL, and the combination of senior and junior, foreign and native players is working.
The arrival of world-class players such as Hulk, Oscar and Elkeson reinforced SIPG over the last three years as they ranked second in the CSL in 2015 and 2017, and reached the semifinals of the AFC Champions League last year.
In contrast to Evergrande, SIPG rely more heavily on local talent. While the Guangzhou side's defense is poor compared to their superb front line, SIPG have a more balanced formation.
Members of the Genbao Football Academy, Chongming Island, Shanghai, east China, 2003. /VCG Photo
The CSL's top local striker, Wu Lei, scored 27 goals, and along with other native players, Chinese have accounted for 55 percent of SIPG's 75 goals this season.
SIPG's Wu, Lv Wenjun, Cai Huikang, Wang Shenchao, Fu Huan and goalkeeper Yan Junlin form the cornerstone of SIPG, and the unifying factor between them is Xu Genbao, Chinese football's "Godfather." The legendary coach created a youth academy model for Chinese professional football clubs over the past 18 years.
This season, the integration of foreign players with a solid stable of local players finally paid off for SIPG. And with more young talent stepping onto the pitch, SIPG's win may usher in a new era of Chinese football dominance.
(With inputs from Xinhua News Agency)