The spotlight on the shifting sands of the Chinese Super League on Oct. 27 was on the resilient performance of Dalian Yingbo. Soccer Daily points out that despite the bumpy road ahead, Dalian Yingbo still holds the key to turning things around.
In the penultimate round of the Central League, Yingbo is following with 54 points, while Guangzhou is in third place with 49 points, and the two teams are in a fierce battle for promotion. If Yingbo can beat Yukun on the road, they will be able to complete their comeback in the early round.
However, Yingbo's starting 541 formation failed to work against the aspiring Yukon. In the first half, the team fell behind 0-2. In the second half, Li sent Sun Platinum and Kotelnik to replace Jin Pengxiang and Yan Xianggong, and the team returned to the familiar 442 formation. The addition of Zhu Pengyu, Wang Zhuanhong and Fei Yu failed to change the situation, and finally Yingbo was defeated by Yukun 0-2.
Meanwhile, Guangzhou beat Yanbian Longding 3-1 at home, and Imbo's points were fixed at 54, while Guangzhou's points rose to 52. From the 21st round to the 29th round, the performance of Yingbo fluctuated, and the mentality and pressure of the players became a key factor. Coach Li Guoxu confessed, "Pressure is never far away. If we want to achieve our goal, we must learn to bear and release pressure."
In the final round, Yingbo hosts Shanghai Jiading Huilong and Guangzhou faces Nanjing on the road, with both teams locked in relegation. For Imbo, a win in the final round will lock up the Super League spot without having to look at Guangzhou. If they don't win, they'll have to hope for a Guangzhou loss; otherwise, they'll face defeat. It is worth mentioning that if both teams have 55 points, Yingbo will be at a disadvantage in this season as they will suffer a double kill from Guangzhou.
Facing the last game and the possible chance to overtake, captain Xiao Qiang said, "The initiative is still in our hands. If we can beat Jiading, we will have a chance to overtake. We are full of confidence. We will do our best to prepare for the next game and do our best to achieve our goal." Coach Li Guoxu added, "Our ultimate goal is to get three points and hold the initiative firmly in our hands."
