Marek Hamsik (R) of Dalian Pro passes the ball during the 14th round match between Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao and Dalian Pro at the postponed 2020 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Dalian Division in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
DALIAN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Guangzhou Evergrande finished its first stage of Chinese Super League with a victory on Sunday as it beat Dalian Pro 1-0 with a stroke of luck.
The 16 teams were divided into two groups this season, with the top four teams in each group moving into Final A for the championship race while the bottom four falling into Final B for the 9th to the 16th places.
Evergrande had secured the top place of Group A before Sunday's match, while Dalian had dropped into the Final B.
After a goalless first half, Evergrande broke the deadlock just three minutes after the break, as Ai Kesen's header took a deflection off Shan Pengfei's head to go beyond a helpless goalkeeper Xu Jiamin.
Dalian had the chance to score the equalizer but Salomon Rondon's free-kick smacked the woodwork.
Evergrande finally collects 34 points after 14 rounds while Dalian sits the second to last with 11 points. Enditem
