Dalian Yingbo snatch CSL title as Chengdu Rongcheng collapse

Chengdu Rongcheng surrender 14-point lead

Chengdu Rongcheng lost their final four Chinese Super League matches, a collapse that allowed Dalian Yingbo to overtake them.

Chengdu had maintained a 14-point lead at the top of the table with five rounds of the season remaining. The club failed to secure the title after surrendering this lead during the final five rounds.

Final day drama in the Chinese Super League

Dalian Yingbo defeated Tianjin Jinmen Tiger 3-1 on the final matchday.

Dalian scored at 4 minutes and 26 seconds. They conceded a penalty equaliser in the 50th minute before regaining the lead in the 70th minute. A third goal arrived in stoppage time.

Chengdu Rongcheng lost 3-2 to Shandong Taishan on the same day. They trailed 2-0 by the 23rd minute and scored once before half-time.

Chengdu trailed 2-0 again at the 63rd minute. They scored another goal at the 79th minute to reach the final 3-2 scoreline.

John Aloisi reflects on title disappointment

We are in a very despairing state. There is nothing else to say". He also stated: "I want to say sorry to everyone.

Chengdu's winless streak and Dalian's surge

Chengdu collected only one point from their final five matches. This result consisted of a 0-0 draw with Henan and four consecutive losses to Tianjin, Shanghai Port, Dalian, and Shandong.

Dalian earned 15 points from the same five-match period. Reports described the collapse as one of the great "bottle-jobs" in football history.

Chengdu began the season with a 12-game unbeaten run including 11 wins and one draw. They held a 12-point lead entering the final four rounds of the season.

Dalian recorded five consecutive wins to capture the title. The club's assistant coach is former A-League head coach Marko Rudan.

Key moments in the title race

The collapse began four rounds before the season ended when a stoppage-time goal by Tianjin Jinmen Tiger denied Chengdu a draw. Chengdu defender Wang Dongsheng scored an own-goal against Shanghai Port, and a 90th-minute equaliser by Hetao Hu against Dalian was disallowed by VAR.

In the penultimate match, Chengdu required only a draw to secure the title. The team missed a penalty before half-time and failed to convert any of their 12 shots during the 1-0 loss.

Dalian secured the championship on the head-to-head tiebreaker after beating Chengdu twice during the season.

Coaching staff roles in the title battle

John Aloisi has managed Chengdu Rongcheng since the beginning of 2026, which is his first overseas head-coaching role. Aloisi previously managed Western United, where he guided the team to the 2022 A-League Men championship.

Dalian Yingbo’s coaching staff includes Australian Mark Rudan. Rudan joined the Dalian club as an assistant in April 2026.

League standings and relegation outcomes

Chengdu Rongcheng finished the season with a goal difference of +15, while Dalian Yingbo ended with a +5 goal difference.

Wuhan Three Towns and Qingdao Hainiu were relegated following points deductions. Shanghai Shenhua and defending champions Shanghai Port finished in mid-table positions despite receiving their own points deductions.