On the night of November 14th, an exciting game drew to a close. Qingdao Sea Cowboys, after a long wait of 5 years and 29 days, returned to the stage of the Central League B with a 2:0 victory over Xiamen Ludao, thanks to the goals of Sun Xu and Xiao Zhi. With two rounds remaining in the Central League B, the Manatees are now eight points ahead of third place, locking up second place in the league ahead of schedule.
The historic Chinese B giants, who have been relegated from the Chinese Super League in 2013 and the Chinese A League in 2016, are finally back in the top-flight arena once again. After the match, Qiao Weiguang, chairman of Zhongneng Group, said that the Central League is just the starting point and that the Manatees aim to return to the Super League as soon as possible.
After the game, the Manatee players were overflowing with excitement, tears and joy. At the beginning of the game, Manatee team showed a strong desire to win. In the 10th minute, in the corner kick attack, Sun Xu made a powerful shot from the periphery and scored a valuable point for the team.
In the second half, the Sea Bulls continued their attack, and in the 52nd minute, Xiao Zhi scored to make the score 2:0. Finally, with this complete victory, Qingdao Sea Bulls succeeded in reaching the first division.
When the referee blew the whistle for the end of the game, tears came to the eyes of captain Changsha Yibo. The player, who experienced the Battle of Gongti in 2013 and relegation from the Central League in 2016, said they had waited too long for this day and thanked all the forces that supported them.
Compared to Sha Yibo, veteran Jiang Ning was also overwhelmed with emotion, saying, "The big wave of Chinese soccer, after the tide recedes, we realize who is sincerely engaged in soccer, who sincerely for the cause of soccer in silence. We are very happy, because when we go home, there is still the mother team, have their own home in."
In order to celebrate this historic moment, Qingdao society was eagerly waiting for it. Before the game, the Manatee team and fan organizations prepared a "second live" event, where many celebrities and fans witnessed the event together.
During the game, the fans at the second site were enthusiastic and cheering. When the final whistle blew, the scene was plunged into a sea of joy. After the game, Chairman Qiao Weiguang, investor of the Manatee team, excitedly opened the champagne and expressed his gratitude to the players, coaches, municipal government and fans for their support. He emphasized that reaching the first division is not the end of the road, and they are looking forward to returning to the top league.
