Romulo (1st L) of Shijiazhuang Ever Bright heads the ball during the 15th round match between Dalian Pro and Shijiazhuang Ever Bright at 2020 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Dalian Division in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
DALIAN, China, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Matheus Nascimento's late goal helped Shijiazhuang Ever Bright come from behind to defeat Dalian Pro 2-1 in the first leg of the two-game relegation playoffs in the Chinese Super League here on Saturday.
Dalian's Sun Guowen broke the deadlock early in the 10th minute when he slightly pushed the ball into the gate on Sam Larsson through the pass.
Shijiazhuang leveled the score in the 30th minute. Dalian defensive foul gave the Ever Bright side a free kick in close range, from which Stoppila Sunzu headed Piao Shihao's cross into the net.
Shao Puliang saved Shijiazhuang from coming behind again as he denied Larsson's long drive in the 67th minute and then beat out Lin Liangming's dangerous header just one minute later.
The 1-1 tie was maintained until Matheus rewrote the score with a long drive from outside of the box. However, the Brazilian forward was injured and replaced two minutes after his goal. Enditem