Starting in the 26th round, Dalian put together a four-game winning streak, collecting all 12 available points. Chengdu, by contrast, managed just one point from a draw and three defeats over the same period, failing to score in four consecutive matches.
Despite the turnaround, Chengdu still held a three-point advantage heading into the final round and needed only a draw away to Shandong Taishan to secure their first CSL championship.
The two title contenders were playing simultaneously on Sunday, with Dalian needing a victory and a Chengdu defeat to have any chance of lifting the trophy.
