Chinese Super League announces schedule for second phase

BEIJING - The Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced on Wednesday that the second phase of the Chinese Super League (CSL) would continue in Dalian and Suzhou on October 16, and the final rankings would be determined on November 12.

According to the CFA, the second phase adopts a two-legged knockout system and is divided into the championship group (Final A) and the relegation group (Final B). Each group's top four teams in the first phase will move into Final A to determine the eventual league champions and the top eight rankings. In contrast, the bottom four will fall into Final B to fight against relegation to the second tier.

In the second phase, the 16 Chinese top-flight clubs will face two-legged ties in a tournament style; away goals will not be taken into account. If the two sides draw on aggregate, extra time will be played. If the game is still tied in extra time, the winner is decided on penalties.

According to regulations, the top three teams of the CSL will play in next year's Asian Football Confederation Champions League, with the fourth spot going to the CFA Cup champion. The last-placed team will be relegated, while the other relegated team will be decided between the 15th place of CSL and the second tier's second place in a two-legged play-off.