Opinion | Exciting last day in the Chinese Super League finalises standings and allows clubs to begin planning for new season

Six of the 16 sides in the division were battling for their Super League survival on the final day of the season

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Jiangsu Suning’s Alex Teixeira has been one of the more successful signings of the great Chinese Super League summer splurge in his first season. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:21pm, 31 Oct 2016

There was drama at the bottom end of the table to find out who would join Shijiazhhuang Everbright in China League One next season and in a way that sums up the Chinese Super League, six teams went into the final round of fixtures on Sunday evening facing the prospect of relegation from the top flight.

In a division that has only 16 teams in it, that’s a remarkable statistic. After 29 games, just four points separated Henan Jianye, Shandong Luneng, Liaoning Whowin, Tianjin Teda, Changchun Yatai and Hangzhou Greentown.

Liaoning Whowin claimed a vital win against second-placed Jiangsu Sainty, Tianjin Teda won on the road at Chongqing Lifan and Changchun Yatai, who Hong Kong international Jack Sealy plays for, beat Shanghai Shenhua to secure safety.

Watch: highlights of Guangzhou Evergrande v Shandong Luneng

Not everyone had it their own way though. Henan Jianye were turned over by Beijing Guoan at the Workers’ Stadium, while Shandong Luneng were on the wrong end of a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of champions Guangzhou Evergrande meaning that a win for perennial escapologists Hangzhou Greentown would have brought goal difference into a play.