Dalian Pro claimed a narrow 2:1 victory over Qingdao Zhongnan in the Chinese Super League's 26th round on Saturday evening at the Dalian Suoyuwan Stadium. Nicolae Stanciu opened the scoring inside the first quarter-hour before Yaw Yeboah levelled for the visitors, only for Luo Jing to restore the hosts' advantage just before halftime. The result keeps Dalian Pro sitting second in the table on 40 points, while Qingdao remain rooted to 16th place on 14 points.
Stanciu's goal came in the 10th minute, a moment that set the tone for the home side's approach. Yeboah responded quickly, finding the net in the 23rd minute to cancel out the lead, but Luo Jing's strike on the stroke of half-time proved decisive. The match saw several tactical adjustments from both managers, with Dalian making three changes in the second half while Qingdao brought on four players in an attempt to overturn the deficit.
And here's the thing — the statistics tell a story of dominance that matched the scoreline. Dalian Pro held 62 per cent of possession and registered nine shots on target compared to Qingdao's two, though their conversion rate left something to be desired. The visitors managed only one big chance created all evening, while the hosts produced five. Shots accuracy sat at 50 per cent for Dalian against a mere 22 per cent for Qingdao.
The gap between the two sides in the table has now opened to 26 points, a chasm that seems increasingly difficult for Qingdao to bridge. Dalian Pro's recent form suggests they are finding their rhythm — wins against Shanghai Shenhua and Chongqing Tongliang Long, alongside two draws — while Qingdao have endured a difficult run, including a heavy 5:1 defeat to Wuhan Three Towns last time out.
By then, the result felt inevitable rather than surprising. Dalian Pro have been unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions, and this victory extends that run. Qingdao, meanwhile, continue to search for consistency in a campaign that has been defined by vulnerability at the back and a lack of cutting edge in front of goal.