It's worth noting that if the Manatees beat the Cangzhou Lions at home and the Shenzhen New Pengcheng also win at home, then all three teams will accumulate 29 points. The head-to-head results and goal difference between the teams will be the core elements in deciding who will be relegated.
Currently, Qingdao Manatees are leading the standings with 12 points. Cangzhou Lions and Shenzhen Xinpengcheng have only 2 points, but Cangzhou Lions have a slight advantage in goal difference. If Qingdao Manatees beat Cangzhou Lions by 1 goal in the last round, both teams will face relegation crisis, while Shenzhen Xinpengcheng will be relegated for sure. On the other hand, if the Manatees win 2-0, Cangzhou Lions will face relegation.
The situation could be even more confusing. If Qingdao West Coast also suffers a loss in the final round, all four teams could have 29 points. At that time, the mutual records of the four teams will be the key. Currently, Qingdao Hainiu has 15 points, Qingdao West Coast has 10 points, Cangzhou Lions have 6 points, and Shenzhen New Pengcheng has 2 points. If the four teams have the same points, Shenzhen New Pengcheng will undoubtedly be relegated.
Such a complicated situation undoubtedly adds a lot of suspense and pressure to the final round of matches. For every team, any failure could lead to the disastrous result of relegation, so it is inevitable to go all out to win.
For the Qingdao Manatees, relegation would be a disaster. According to Cui Hengliang, a reporter from the Peninsula Metropolis Daily News, if the Manatees are relegated, the next season will no longer be the historic Qingdao Manatees, but the Qingdao West Coast team. This is not only about the fate of the Manatees, but also about the legacy of the city's soccer tradition.
Against this background, the relegation bonus of 4 million dollars is undoubtedly a shot in the arm. However, whether the money can really motivate the players and whether they can play at the highest level at the critical moment is still to be tested by the game. We are looking forward to the Manatees defeating the Cangzhou Lions at home and successfully completing their relegation task this season.
