CSL: Yatai and Hengfeng relegated in the year for SIPG

World
Europe

01:58

The final day of the Chinese Super League (CSL) season saw a relegation battle between Changchun Yatai and hosts Dalian Yifang on Sunday. There were four teams tied at 32 points before heading into their final games of the season, and none of them wanted to join Guizhou Hengfeng in getting dropped to China League One.

Coach Bernd Schuster was looking to end a four-game losing run to keep Dalian in the top flight as the match kicked off on the season's final day. Changchun got a corner kick in the seventh minute that was only partially cleared before being headed back and forth. A volley attempt fell to Lasse Vibe but he sent his shot off the crossbar.

Dalian got on the board in the 23rd minute when Duvier Riascos headed home to score his third goal of the season.

In the 64th minute, Belgian Yannick Carrasco slipped between two players before firing into the far side of the net to make it 2-0 for the hosts.

Changchun Yatai are relegated to China League One after losing to Dalian Yifang 0-2 in Dalian, Liaoning Province, northeast China, November 11, 2018. /VCG Photo

Then Changchun made a valiant attempt to bounce back as Tan Long attempted a lovely volley to see his effort being parried.

The game eventually ended with a 2-0 scoreline, which means Dalian will remain in the CSL with 35 points while Changchun will be relegated due to their inferior head-to-head records against Tianjin Teda and Chongqing SWM.

In other games, already relegated Guizhou got the better of Chongqing 1-0, Guangzhou Evergrande smashed Teda 5-1, new champions Shanghai SIPG lost 2-3 to Tianjin Quanjian, Hebei Fortune edged past Beijing Guoan 2-1, Jiangsu Suning demolished Henan Jianye 4-0 and Shanghai Shenhua drew 2-2 with Shandong Luneng.

In the season's final standings, SIPG claimed the title with 68 points, ending Evergrande's seven year run as champions, but Guangzhou can take solace in the single-season scoring record of 82 goals. Shandong and Guoan secured the other spots for the AFC Champions League.

Promoted Dalian finished in 11th place to stay in the top tier, while Changchun and Guizhou are relegated to China League One.