Jiangsu Suning takes Chinese Super League crown with win over Guangzhou Evergrande

SUZHOU, China - Jiangsu Suning created a historic moment here on Thursday, as it beat the odds to win its first Chinese Super League title after a 2-1 victory over defending champion Guangzhou Evergrande.

Evergrande has won the CSL eight times in nine seasons while Suning has never triumphed in the top flight. The two sides played out a goalless draw in the first leg which made the return leg decisive.

With veteran Zheng Zhi injured, Evergrande's coach Fabio Cannavaro started Xu Xin in the middle of the park, while Suning had to do without defender Li Ang, Alex Teixeira partnered with Eder Martins up front.

Both sides failed to create real chances in the first half until the 42nd minute when Suning underwent a counterattack, and Teixeira sprinted from his own half, shaking off the defense of Jiang Guangtai, before being brought down by He Chao near the edge of the box.

Despite strong penalty appeals from Suning, the referee awarded a promising free kick and sent off He after viewing the VAR.

From the resulting free kick, Eder's attempt took a deflection off Paulinho to fly into the corner, leaving goalkeeper Liu Dianzuo stranded.

Suning extended the lead straight after the interval, as Jiang's clearance turned into an assist for Teixeira who cut inside from the left to curl into the corner of the net.

Cannavaro made sweeping changes after that, throwing on Huang Bowen, Zhong Yihao and Yang Liyu, and it worked in the 61st minute when Zhong whipped in a cross from the left, and Wei Shihao found the net with a header.

As Evergrande was pinning Suning back, Suning underwent waves of counterattacks. Evergrande then replaced defender Park Ji-soo with striker Luo Guofu, but was still toothless to turn the game around.