2018 in Chinese football

Football in China

Season	2018
Men's football
Super League	Shanghai SIPG
League One	Wuhan Zall
League Two	Sichuan Longfor
Champions League	Taizhou Yuanda
FA Cup	Beijing Sinobo Guoan
CFA Super Cup	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao
←  2017 2019  →

The 2018 season was the 68th season of competitive association football in China.

Promotion and relegation

League	Promoted to league	Relegated from league
Chinese Super League	Dalian Yifang Beijing Renhe	Yanbian Funde Liaoning Whowin
China League One	Heilongjiang Lava Spring Meixian Techand	Baoding Yingli ETS Yunnan Lijiang
China League Two	Zibo Sunday Anhui Hefei Guiguan Yanbian Beiguo Fujian Tianxin Shenzhen Pengcheng Sichuan Jiuniu

National teams

China national football team

Main article: China national football team

China women's national football team

Main article: China women's national football team

AFC competitions

2018 AFC Champions League

Main article: 2018 AFC Champions League

Men's Football

League season

Chinese Super League

Main article: 2018 Chinese Super League

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Shanghai SIPG (C)	30	21	5	4	77	33	+44	68	Qualification to Champions League group stage
2	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao	30	20	3	7	82	36	+46	63
3	Shandong Luneng Taishan	30	17	7	6	57	39	+18	58	Qualification to Champions League play-off round
4	Beijing Sinobo Guoan [lower-alpha 1]	30	15	8	7	64	45	+19	53	Qualification to Champions League group stage
5	Jiangsu Suning	30	13	9	8	48	33	+15	48
6	Hebei China Fortune	30	10	9	11	46	50	−4	39
7	Shanghai Greenland Shenhua	30	10	8	12	44	53	−9	38
8	Beijing Renhe	30	9	10	11	33	46	−13	37
9	Tianjin Quanjian	30	9	9	12	41	48	−7	36 [lower-alpha 2]
10	Guangzhou R&F	30	10	6	14	49	61	−12	36 [lower-alpha 2]
11	Dalian Yifang	30	10	5	15	37	57	−20	35
12	Henan Jianye	30	10	4	16	30	45	−15	34
13	Chongqing Dangdai Lifan	30	8	8	14	40	46	−6	32 [lower-alpha 3]
14	Tianjin Teda	30	8	8	14	41	54	−13	32 [lower-alpha 3]
15	Changchun Yatai (R)	30	8	8	14	45	56	−11	32 [lower-alpha 3]	Relegation to League One
16	Guizhou Hengfeng (R)	30	7	3	20	34	66	−32	24

Source: League table
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Reserve league points; 6) U19 Elite league points; 7) Goal difference; 8) Goals scored; 9) Disciplinary points (1 point for each yellow card, 3 points for each red card); 10) Draw
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1. Beijing Sinobo Guoan qualified for the 2019 AFC Champions League group stage as 2018 Chinese FA Cup winners.
2. Tianjin Quanjian is ahead of Guangzhou R&F on head-to-head points: Tianjin Quanjian 2–1 Guangzhou R&F, Guangzhou R&F 2–6 Tianjin Quanjian.
3. Chongqing Dangdai Lifan, Tianjin Teda and Changchun Yatai were ranked by head-to-head points: Chongqing Dangdai Lifan 7 pts, Tianjin Teda 5 pts, Changchun Yatai 4 pts.

China League One

Main article: 2018 China League One

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
1	Wuhan Zall (C, P)	30	18	9	3	60	25	+35	63	Promotion to Super League
2	Shenzhen F.C. (P)	30	15	8	7	57	34	+23	53
3	Zhejiang Greentown	30	14	9	7	53	38	+15	51
4	Qingdao Huanghai	30	13	10	7	63	44	+19	49
5	Beijing Enterprises Group	30	12	11	7	43	34	+9	47
6	Shijiazhuang Ever Bright	30	12	9	9	43	38	+5	45
7	Heilongjiang Lava Spring [lower-alpha 1]	30	10	11	9	37	33	+4	41 [lower-alpha 2]
8	Liaoning F.C.	30	11	8	11	35	44	−9	41 [lower-alpha 2]
9	Meizhou Hakka [lower-alpha 1]	30	11	7	12	40	43	−3	40
10	Yanbian Funde [lower-alpha 3] (R, D, R)	30	11	5	14	34	36	−2	38	Disbanded after season
11	Shanghai Shenxin	30	11	4	15	37	45	−8	37 [lower-alpha 4]
12	Zhejiang Yiteng (D, R)	30	10	7	13	43	53	−10	37 [lower-alpha 4]	Relegation to League Two [3]
13	Nei Mongol Zhongyou [lower-alpha 1]	30	10	4	16	36	54	−18	34 [lower-alpha 5]
14	Meizhou Meixian Techand [lower-alpha 1] (O)	30	8	10	12	41	44	−3	34 [lower-alpha 5]	Qualification to Relegation play-offs
15	Dalian Transcendence [lower-alpha 6] (R, D)	30	7	7	16	28	48	−20	28	Disbanded after season
16	Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard	30	3	9	18	24	61	−37	18

Source: League table
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Reserve league points; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Disciplinary points (1 point for each yellow card, 3 points for each red card); 9) Draw
(C) Champions; (D) Disqualified; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1. Ineligible for promotion. ^[1]
2. Heilongjiang Lava Spring is ahead of Liaoning on head-to-head points: Heilongjiang Lava Spring 2–0 Liaoning, Liaoning 2–1 Heilongjiang Lava Spring.
3. Yanbian Funde was disqualified by CFA and was dissolved due to tax owed. ^[2]
4. Shanghai Shenxin is ahead of Zhejiang Yiteng on head-to-head points: Shanghai Shenxin 1–0 Zhejiang Yiteng, Zhejiang Yiteng 0–1 Shanghai Shenxin.
5. Nei Mongol Zhongyou is ahead of Meizhou Meixian Techand on head-to-head points: Nei Mongol Zhongyou 1–0 Meizhou Meixian Techand, Meizhou Meixian Techand 1–3 Nei Mongol Zhongyou.
6. Dalian Transcendence was ineligible for promotion. And Dalian was dissolved after failing to submit the salary & bonus confirmation form. ^{[1] [4]}

China League Two

Main article: 2018 China League Two

North Group

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic (Q, P)	26	17	2	7	41	20	+21	53	Qualification to Play-offs
2	Jiangsu Yancheng Dingli (Q)	26	15	7	4	45	20	+25	52 [lower-alpha 1]
3	Shenyang Urban (Q)	26	16	4	6	51	28	+23	52 [lower-alpha 1]
4	Qingdao Jonoon (Q)	26	16	3	7	44	23	+21	51
5	Yinchuan Helanshan	26	14	7	5	45	23	+22	49	9th–26th place Play-offs
6	Hebei Elite	26	11	10	5	50	32	+18	43 [lower-alpha 2]
7	Jilin Baijia	26	13	4	9	41	33	+8	43 [lower-alpha 2]
8	Baoding Yingli ETS	26	13	3	10	38	30	+8	42
9	Dalian Boyoung	26	12	4	10	34	27	+7	40
10	Zibo Sunday	26	10	5	11	34	31	+3	35
11	Beijing BIT	26	8	2	16	39	50	−11	26
12	Yanbian Beiguo	26	7	3	16	29	49	−20	24
13	Baotou Nanjiao	26	3	0	23	24	68	−44	9
14	Shenyang Dongjin	26	0	0	26	0	81	−81	0	Defunct

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Disciplinary points (1 point for each yellow card, 3 points for each red card)
(P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Notes:

1. Jiangsu Yancheng Dingli is ahead of Shenyang Urban on head-to-head points: Jiangsu Yancheng Dingli 2–1 Shenyang Urban, Shenyang Urban 1–2 Jiangsu Yancheng Dingli.
2. Hebei Elite is ahead of Jilin Baijia on head-to-head points: Hebei Elite 2–1 Jilin Baijia, Jilin Baijia 3–5 Hebei Elite.

South Group

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Sichuan Longfor (Q, C, P)	26	23	3	0	86	10	+76	72	Qualification to Play-offs
2	Nantong Zhiyun (Q, P)	26	18	4	4	55	21	+34	58
3	Fujian Tianxin (Q)	26	12	7	7	33	24	+9	43
4	Shenzhen Ledman (Q)	26	11	8	7	31	26	+5	41
5	Hunan Billows	26	10	10	6	42	28	+14	40	9th–26th place Play-offs
6	Suzhou Dongwu	26	10	9	7	26	26	0	39 [lower-alpha 1]
7	Zhenjiang Huasa	26	11	6	9	27	31	−4	39 [lower-alpha 1]
8	Hainan Boying	26	8	9	9	22	28	−6	33 [lower-alpha 2]
9	Shenzhen Pengcheng	26	8	9	9	24	24	0	33 [lower-alpha 2]
10	Yunnan Flying Tigers	26	8	9	9	29	23	+6	33 [lower-alpha 2]
11	Jiangxi Liansheng	26	7	9	10	33	32	+1	30
12	Sichuan Jiuniu	26	6	9	11	23	25	−2	27
13	Shanghai Sunfun	26	3	2	21	18	73	−55	11
14	Anhui Hefei Guiguan	26	0	0	26	0	78	−78	0	Defunct

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Disciplinary points (1 point for each yellow card, 3 points for each red card)
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Notes:

1. Suzhou Dongwu is ahead of Zhenjiang Huasa on head-to-head points: Suzhou Dongwu 0–0 Zhenjiang Huasa, Zhenjiang Huasa 0–1 Suzhou Dongwu.
2. Hainan Boying and Shenzhen Pengcheng are ahead of Yunnan Flying Tigers on head-to-head points: Hainan Boying 5 pts, Shenzhen Pengcheng 5 pts, Yunnan Flying Tigers 4 pts. Hainan Boying is ahead of Shenzhen Pengcheng on head-to-head goals scored.

Overall table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Sichuan Longfor (C, P)	31	27	4	0	95	10	+85	85	China League One
2	Nantong Zhiyun (P)	31	21	5	5	58	22	+36	68
3	Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic [lower-alpha 1] (P)	31	18	4	9	44	24	+20	58
4	Jiangsu Yancheng Dingli	31	16	9	6	46	23	+23	57
5	Shenzhen Ledman	28	11	10	7	33	28	+5	43	Disbanded after season [7]
6	Shenyang Urban	28	16	5	7	51	29	+22	53
7	Fujian Tianxin	28	12	8	8	33	25	+8	44
8	Qingdao Jonoon	28	16	3	9	44	29	+15	51
9	Yinchuan Helanshan	28	16	7	5	49	24	+25	55
10	Hunan Billows	28	10	10	8	43	32	+11	40
11	Hebei Elite	28	12	11	5	55	33	+22	47
12	Suzhou Dongwu	28	10	10	8	27	31	−4	40
13	Zhenjiang Huasa	28	12	7	9	31	33	−2	43
14	Jilin Baijia	28	13	5	10	43	37	+6	44
15	Baoding Yingli ETS	28	15	3	10	42	31	+11	48
16	Hainan Boying	28	8	9	11	23	32	−9	33	Disbanded after season [8]
17	Dalian Boyoung	28	14	4	10	40	30	+10	46
18	Shenzhen Pengcheng	28	8	9	11	27	30	−3	33
19	Zibo Sunday	28	12	5	11	38	32	+6	41
20	Yunnan Flying Tigers [lower-alpha 2]	28	8	9	11	30	27	+3	33	Disbanded after season [9]
21	Beijing BIT	28	9	3	16	44	53	−9	30
22	Jiangxi Liansheng	28	7	10	11	36	37	−1	31
23	Yanbian Beiguo	28	8	4	16	31	50	−19	28
24	Sichuan Jiuniu	28	6	10	12	24	27	−3	28
25	Baotou Nanjiao	28	5	0	23	30	68	−38	15
26	Shanghai Sunfun	28	3	2	23	18	79	−61	11	Disbanded after season [10]
27	Anhui Hefei Guiguan	26	0	0	26	0	78	−78	0	Defunct
28	Shenyang Dongjin	26	0	0	26	0	81	−81	0

Updated to match(es) played on completed. Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}
Rules for classification: (Teams ranked 5th-8th) 1) Points in playoffs; 2) Goal difference in playoffs; 3) Goals scored in playoffs; 4) Average points in group stage; 5) Drawing of lots
(Teams ranked 9th-26th) 1) Points in playoffs; 2) Goals scored in playoffs; 3) Away goals scored in playoffs; 4) Overtime; 5) Penalty shoot-out
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:

1. Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic was originally advanced to promotion play-offs but lost in the promotion play-offs. However, Shaanxi was promoted following the disqualification of the China League One side Yanbian Funde. ^{[5] [6]}
2. Yunnan Flying Tigers was disqualified by CFA. ^[5]

Play-offs

25th–26th place

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Baotou Nanjiao	6–0	Shanghai Sunfun	3–0	3–0

23rd–24th place

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Yanbian Beiguo	2–1	Sichuan Jiuniu	1–1	1–0

21st–22nd place

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Beijing BIT	5–3	Jiangxi Liansheng	3–1	2–2

19th–20th place

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Yunnan Flying Tigers	1–4	Zibo Sunday	1–2	0–2

17th–18th place

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Shenzhen Pengcheng	3–6	Dalian Boyoung	1–2	2–4

15th–16th place

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Hainan Boying	1–4	Baoding Yingli ETS	0–1	1–3

13th–14th place

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Jilin Baijia	2–4	Zhenjiang Huasa	0–2	2–2

11th–12th place

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Suzhou Dongwu	1–5	Hebei Elite	1–1	0–4

9th–10th place

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Hunan Billows	1–4	Yinchuan Helanshan	1–3	0–1

Quarter-finals

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Shenzhen Ledman	2–2 (a)	Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic	2–2	0–0
Shenyang Urban	0–1	Nantong Zhiyun	0–0	0–1
Qingdao Jonoon	0–6	Sichuan Longfor	0–2	0–4
Fujian Tianxin	0–1	Jiangsu Yancheng Dingli	0–0	0–1

Semi-finals

Team 1	Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Nantong Zhiyun	2–0	Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic	1–0	1–0
Jiangsu Yancheng Dingli	0–2 (a.e.t.)	Sichuan Longfor	0–0	0–2

Third-Place Match

3 November 2018 (2018-11-03)

15:00

Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic	1–0	Jiangsu Yancheng Dingli
Yang He 90+1'

Shaanxi Province Stadium, Xi'an

Attendance: 35,683

Referee: Muhammad Taqi (Singapore)

Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic qualified to 2018 China League One relegation play-offs.

Final Match

4 November 2018 (2018-11-04)

17:00

Nantong Zhiyun	0–1	Sichuan Longfor
		Zhang Jingyang 66'

Rugao Olympic Sports Center, Rugao

Attendance: 14,986

Referee: Xing Qi

Cup competitions

Chinese FA Cup

Main article: 2018 Chinese FA Cup

Chinese FA Super Cup

Main article: 2018 Chinese FA Super Cup

26 February 2018 (2018-02-26)

19:35 UTC+8

Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao	4–1	Shanghai Greenland Shenhua
Huang Bowen 26' Alan 43' Gao Lin 65' Goulart 90+2' (pen.)	Report	Guarín 36'

Hongkou Football Stadium, Shanghai

Attendance: 23,998

Referee: Fu Ming (Beijing)

References

1. "关于公布获得2019赛季中国足球协会甲级联赛准入资格俱乐部名单的通知". thecfa.cn (in Chinese). 2019-02-01. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
2. "关于撤销延边富德、云南飞虎、深圳新桥2019赛季联赛准入资格的通知" (in Chinese). thecfa.cn. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
3. "关于公布获得2019赛季中国足球协会乙级联赛准入资格俱乐部名单的通知". thecfa.cn (in Chinese). 2019-02-01. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
4. "足协公示工资确认表 中超全部提交中甲中乙3队未交". Sina.com (in Chinese). 2019-01-13. Retrieved 2019-01-13.
5. "关于撤销延边富德、云南飞虎、深圳新桥2019赛季联赛准入资格的通知" (in Chinese). thecfa.cn. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
6. "关于递补陕西长安竞技足球俱乐部参加2019中甲联赛的通知" [Notice on Completing Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic Football Club to Participate in 2019 League A]. Dongqiudi.com (in Chinese). 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
7. "足协公布中乙准入名单" [Football Association announced the entry list of China B]. Sina.com (in Chinese). 2019-02-01. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
8. "足协公布中乙准入名单" [Football Association announced the entry list of China B]. Sina.com (in Chinese). 2019-02-01. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
9. "足协公布中乙准入名单" [Football Association announced the entry list of China B]. Sina.com (in Chinese). 2019-02-01. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
10. "足协公布中乙准入名单" [Football Association announced the entry list of China B]. Sina.com (in Chinese). 2019-02-01. Retrieved 2019-02-01.