According to The Peninsula Morning Post, Dalian Yingbo further consolidated their position in the promotion zone with a 2-0 away victory over Guangxi Pingguo Halao, pulling ahead of one of their main rivals, and also welcoming the longest break of the season.
The report states that before the resumption of the China League One on August 20th, all teams will have ample time to adjust and prepare for the final sprint. Before the restart, Dalian Yingbo successfully secured a favorable position.
The media believes that the current situation is somewhat similar to the start of the season, with Yingbo taking an early lead through a string of victories. What’s different this time around is the significant increase in goals scored. During the opening four-game winning streak, they only managed to score four goals, while in just three wins in the second half of the season, they have already netted eight. Whether it’s individual player form or the team’s overall cohesion, there has been noticeable improvement compared to the beginning of the season. Following Kotnik’s return from suspension, his performance improved even further, scoring three goals in three games and providing a crucial assist. Lu Zhuoyi moved from substitute to starting lineup, contributing a goal and an assist. Veteran Yan Xiangchuang provided consecutive assists, Fei Yu scored twice, and new signings Karanga and Zhao Mingjian also found the back of the net. From creating shooting opportunities to converting them, Dalian Yingbo has shown comprehensive improvement.
In addition, Sui Weijie’s steady and experienced performances, coupled with head coach Li Guoxu’s increasing emphasis on game tempo control, provide the foundation for Dalian Yingbo’s rapid recovery after a low period. However, there are still areas where the team needs reinforcement. Karanga has so far only featured in the closing stages of matches, not yet meeting expectations. Roberson and Jin Pengxiang are close to suspension, and Zhou Yuande needs to integrate into the team quickly. During this break, new players accelerating their chemistry-building with the squad is crucial.
Looking ahead at the schedule, the media writes that Dalian Yingbo faces four crucial matches in the second half of the season, including away fixtures against Guangxi Pingguo Halao, Guangzhou, Chongqing Tongliang Long, and Yunnan Yukuang. Having successfully passed the first test, they have widened the gap with the fourth-placed team to seven points, seemingly leaving only Chongqing Tongliang Long as direct competitors. However, from a promotion perspective, opportunities and challenges remain intertwined. Dalian Yingbo does not possess overwhelming superiority over its opponents and must continue to fight hard match by match. The same applies to their opponents; in the China League One, apart from Yunnan Yukuang holding a larger advantage, the other top-ranked teams are relatively evenly matched. The final outcome will depend on the efforts put into each match.