Romain Alessandrin (front) of Qingdao Huanghai shoots a free kick and scores during the 17th round match between Wuhan Zall and Qingdao Huanghai at 2020 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Dalian Division in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
DALIAN, China, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Wuhan Zall beat 10-men Qingdao Huanghai 2-1 in the first leg of the Chinese Super League (CSL) playoffs here on Thursday.
Zall and Huanghai have met twice in the first phase of CSL, with Zall pocketing both victories. Both teams have so far failed to escape relegation in the first round of playoffs.
Zall started the game aggressively as Jean Evrard Kouassi slotted home with a goal in the eighth minute. But Wuhan's French midfielder Eddy Gnahore was replaced by Zhou Tong due to injury in the 30th minute.
In the second half, Wuhan extended the lead when Brazilian Leo Carrilho Baptistao headed home in the 58th minute.
Six minutes later, Qingdao's Gao Xiang was shown a red card for fouling. However, the 10-men Qingdao resisted their opponents' attacks and pulled one goal back in the 72nd minute through Romain Alessandrini.
The two teams will meet in the second leg of their tie on Nov. 2. Enditem
