Dalian Pro has suffered another setback in their quest to win the Chinese Super League title as they lost 1-0 to Guangzhou Evergrande at the Guangdong Stadium on Saturday night. The game was marred by controversy, with Dalian's foreign player, Rui Tianxiang, being sent off for a red card.
The incident occurred in the 62nd minute when Rui made a tackle on Guizhou's Ye Xiaoyu, who had just received a yellow card for dissent. However, Rui did not appear to have any contact with Ye and instead appeared to be attempting to take down the player from behind.
Referee Xie Zhongmin, who is also the head coach of the Chinese U-22 national team, gave Rui a straight red card for his actions. It was a harsh decision that drew criticism from fans and players alike, with many arguing that Rui was simply defending himself against a foul committed by Ye.
Despite the controversial decision, Dalian Pro were unable to come back from a one-goal deficit and were ultimately defeated by Guangzhou Evergrande. The loss means that Dalian Pro now sit second in the league table, two points behind leaders Guangzhou Evergrande.
Rui Tianxiang's sending off will undoubtedly impact Dalian Pro's chances of winning the Chinese Super League this season. While the club may have been able to cope without him earlier in the campaign, the loss of such a key player could prove costly in the coming weeks.
Overall, it was a disappointing result for Dalian Pro and a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead in the final stages of the Chinese Super League. With only four games remaining, there is still time for Dalian Pro to make up ground on Guangzhou Evergrande, but they must now focus on regaining their composure and getting back to winning ways if they hope to secure a top-four finish.