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Jonathan White

Wuhan Zall could finally breathe a sigh of relief on Sunday after securing their Chinese Super League status for next season with a 1-0 over Zhejiang Greentown in Dalian.
Captain Li Hang’s 28th minute penalty made the score 3-2 on aggregate and it would prove decisive. Li had only just returned from injury for the relegation play-off that saw Shijiazhuang Ever Bright relegated and gave Wuhan one last chance at survival.
It could be worth at least 60 million yuan (US$9.15 million) to the team.
Reports in the mainland said each CSL club received that as a dividend in the 2019 season, with 90 per cent of the total purse shared among the league’s 16 teams and the rest allocated based on final position.


The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the prize purse for the 2020 season is yet to be confirmed.
These teams had played out a dramatic 2-2 draw in the first leg of the promotion-relegation play-off last week, when Zhejiang’s South African striker Dino Ndlovu netted a 95th minute equaliser from the spot.
Kouassi double ensures Wuhan’s longest season not over yet
Zhejiang had finished second in the second tier this season – three points behind champions Changchun Yatai in the promotion mini-table – and were one game away from a first return to the top flight since they were relegated in 2016.
Wuhan, meanwhile, had finished in midtable during the first stage of the season but moved on to the relegation-deciding second stage as they finished in the bottom half of their eight-team group.
They then failed to secure their CSL status over two legs against Henan Jianye or Qingdao Huanghai to move on to the Shijiazhuang play-off.

“Many of our players, especially the foreign ones, got injured in this year’s CSL. Even though, they held out from the opening ceremony to the last play-offs,” Wuhan Zall coach Pang Li said.
The club are still in the Chinese FA Cup, in which they face Taizhou Yuanda on Saturday, but they could be forgiven for acting as if the season is essentially over now the CSL remains a reality.
It has been a long season for the players and staff.
Wuhan Zall on brink of ‘cruel’ CSL relegation after nightmare year
Long before the CSL was postponed from its February start date, the club, many of whose staff are Wuhan natives, were locked out of the city as it battled the coronavirus outbreak.
First they were in a training camp in Guangdong before travelling to Spain under then coach Jose Gonzalez, the man who replaced Li Tie. The Spaniard was later replaced by Pang Li.
The team found themselves trapped in southern Spain with other clubs unwilling to play preseason games because of unfounded coronavirus fears.

Players and staff were only able to communicate with their families through social media.
It was 104 days before they could return to Wuhan. The team then had to relocate to Suzhou for the CSL bubble for the first 10 weeks of the delayed season. This was followed up with the longest stay in Dalian for the play-offs.


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Chinese Super League

Wuhan Zall secure Chinese Super League survival and possible 60 million yuan in play-off win

Jean Evrard Kouassi of Wuhan Zall celebrates a goal against Shijiazhuang Ever Bright in the Chinese Super League relegation play-off. Photo: Xinhua

(201111) -- DALIAN, Nov. 11, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Goalkeeper Dong Chunyu (C) of Wuhan Zall makes a save during the 20th round match between Shijiazhuang Ever Bright and Wuhan Zall at 2020 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Dalian Division in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

(201111) -- DALIAN, Nov. 11, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Leo Baptistao (L) and Li Xing of Wuhan Zall celebrates their team's goal during the 20th round match between Shijiazhuang Ever Bright and Wuhan Zall at 2020 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Dalian Division in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Covid-19 sees Chinese Super League cost record US$30 million

Staff members wearing masks at the opening Chinese Super League match between Wuhan Zall and Qingdao Huanghai in Suzhou in July. Photo: Xinhua

60 million yuan at stake as Wuhan and Shijiazhuang fight it out for Chinese Super League survival

Wuhan players react during the match against Qingdao Huanghai as they lose the tie after a penalty shoot-out. Photos: Xinhua

(201102) -- DALIAN, Nov. 2, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Yao Hanlin of Wuhan Zall reacts after missing a penalty shot during the 18th round match between Wuhan Zall and Qingdao Huanghai at 2020 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Dalian Division in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

(201102) -- DALIAN, Nov. 2, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Team members of Qingdao Huanghai celebrate for victory after the 18th round match between Wuhan Zall and Qingdao Huanghai at 2020 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Dalian Division in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

(201102) -- DALIAN, Nov. 2, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Players of Wuhan Zall leave the pitch after the 18th round match between Wuhan Zall and Qingdao Huanghai at 2020 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Dalian Division in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Wuhan Zall, the CSL team from coronavirus epicentre, hurtle towards ‘cruel’ relegation

Wuhan Zall supporters cheer during a match against Beijing Guoan in the Chinese Super League in September. Photo: Xinhua

(200906) -- SUZHOU, Sept. 6, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Players of Wuhan Zall greet their supporters after the 9th round match between Wuhan Zall and Beijing Guoan at the postponed 2020 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Suzhou Division in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

(201018) -- DALIAN, Oct. 18, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Zhou Dingyang (R) of Henan Jianye competes during the 15th round match between Henan Jianye and Wuhan Zall at 2020 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Dalian Division in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

(FILES) This file photo taken on September 5, 2020 shows supporters of Wuhan Zall on a bus in Suzhou, in China's eastern Jiangsu province. - Wuhan Zall are fighting for survival in the Chinese Super League, desperate to avoid a heart-breaking conclusion to a year that began with them stranded outside their coronavirus-scarred city. (Photo by PETER STEBBINGS / AFP)

(200418) -- WUHAN, April 18, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Supporters of Wuhan Zall football team welcome the team when they arrive at Wuhan railway station in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, April 18, 2020. Wuhan Zall football team left Wuhan on Jan. 5 for a training session in Guangzhou of Guangdong Province. Since then, the team has spent 104 days training in Malaga of Spain and other cities in Guangdong before finally returning to Wuhan Saturday, finishing a prolonged journey during the COVID-19 epidemic. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

(201018) -- DALIAN, Oct. 18, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Christian Bassogog (4th L) of Henan Jianye talks to Jean Evrard Kouassi (4th R) of Wuhan Zall after the 15th round match between Henan Jianye and Wuhan Zall at 2020 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Dalian Division in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

CSL: Wuhan Zall’s Jean Evrard Kouassi hits double in Shijiazhuang Ever Bright win to ensure longest season is not over yet

Wuhan’s Jean Evrard Kouassi (left) celebrates his goal with Leo Baptistao in their Chinese Super League match against Shijiazhuang Ever Bright in Dalian. Photo: Xinhua

(201111) -- DALIAN, Nov. 11, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Jean Evrard Kouassi (C) of Wuhan Zall is tackled during the 20th round match between Shijiazhuang Ever Bright and Wuhan Zall at 2020 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Dalian Division in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

(201111) -- DALIAN, Nov. 11, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Liu Yun (front) of Wuhan Zall warms up before the 20th round match between Shijiazhuang Ever Bright and Wuhan Zall at 2020 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Dalian Division in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Nov. 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Sport

Football

China


Team from city at epicentre of Covid-19 outbreak can breathe sigh of relief after avoiding relegation to second tier
Penalty from captain Li Hang settles second leg against Zhejiang Greentown



Team from city at epicentre of Covid-19 outbreak can breathe sigh of relief after securing Chinese Super League status with play-off win over Zhejiang Greentown.


Coronavirus China

Wuhan Zall secure Chinese Super League survival and possible 60 million yuan in play-off win

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Team from city at epicentre of Covid-19 outbreak can breathe sigh of relief after avoiding relegation to second tier Penalty from captain Li Hang settles second leg against Zhejiang Greentown

Team from city at epicentre of Covid-19 outbreak can breathe sigh of relief after avoiding relegation to second tier

Penalty from captain Li Hang settles second leg against Zhejiang Greentown