From 1-3 to 2-1! Dalian remain unbeaten in four rounds, while Qingdao Hainiu's predicament leaves Dalian fans emotional

Today, let's talk about this Chinese Super League match from the 26th round — Dalian Yingbo defeated Qingdao Hainiu 2-1 at home, remained unbeaten for four rounds, and firmly held fourth place in the league. However, the Dalian fans were not completely happy after the win. Why? Because the Qingdao Hainiu side, struggling in the relegation zone, looked familiar in a way that brought a sense of sadness.

Just 10 minutes after kickoff, Stanciu fired a powerful shot from a tight angle, and the ball crashed into the net like a cannonball, giving Dalian a dream start. The Bayuquan Stadium erupted, and everyone thought: this match is under control! But football has a way of challenging expectations. In the 23rd minute, Ye Boya took a low shot, and Dalian goalkeeper Liu Weiguo failed to hold it — the ball slowly rolled into the goal, making it 1-1. It was a strange moment: the opponent's shot turned into a goal conceded by their own mistake.

Just when it looked like the first half would end level, Luo Jing scored a stunning long-range goal in stoppage time. The ball curled into the top corner, making it 2-1! The finish was clean and decisive. The Bayuquan Stadium immediately erupted.

Dalian still had chances in the second half. Achimpen made a long run forward, but his shot was blocked; a goal was ruled out for offside, and the 2-1 scoreline remained until the final whistle. The three points moved them closer to an AFC Champions League qualification spot.

Yet the Dalian fans were not able to fully celebrate after the match. Why? Looking at Hainiu made them think of Dalian Ren in the past.

Back then, Dalian Ren were in a similar situation — fighting desperately for wins but always falling just short; creating chances but failing to score; still alive in the competition, while everyone knew the situation was becoming increasingly difficult. Zheng Long's missed opportunity was reminiscent of certain Dalian Ren matches from that period — the whole team fought until the end, but lacked composure, became nervous, and seemed unsure where to send the ball.

Speaking of this, Qingdao Hainiu and Dalian have always had a good relationship. Apart from the incident known as “Sha La La” in the past, there has been no major rivalry or hostility between the two teams. Before the match, some Dalian fans shouted “take advantage of your opponent's illness and finish them off,” which reflected the competitive spirit of football. But after the game, seeing Hainiu likely heading toward relegation brought a feeling of sadness. Some people said Dalian's performance was poor, but there was no intention to deliberately ease off — to be fair, the 2-1 scoreline could be seen as giving an old rival some dignity.

Dalian won, remained unbeaten for four rounds, and an AFC Champions League qualification spot is within reach — but when Dalian fans looked back, they saw Hainiu moving closer to danger. It was like eating dumplings without vinegar: still delicious, but something felt missing. In the end, results matter in football, but the balance in people's hearts matters too. If Hainiu are eventually relegated, hopefully they can be like Dalian Ren in the past — fall down, then climb back up. See you in the Chinese Super League again someday!