2020 China League One

The 2020 China League One (Chinese: 2020中国足球协会甲级联赛) was the 17th season of the China League One, the second tier of the Chinese football league pyramid, since its establishment in 2004. The season was scheduled to begin on 29 February and end on 1 November,[1] but was postponed following the COVID-19 pandemic in China.[2] On 26 August 2020, Chinese Football Association announced that the season would be resumed on 12 September 2020 and 18 teams would be split into three groups in three locations, Group A in Chengdu, hosted by Chengdu Better City, Group B in Meizhou, hosted by Meizhou Hakka, and Group C in Changzhou, hosted by Kunshan F.C.[3]

China League One
Season2020
Dates12 September – 8 November 2020
ChampionsChangchun Yatai (2nd title)
PromotedChangchun Yatai
Matches played141
Goals scored323 (2.29 per match)
Top goalscorerTan Long (11 goals)
Biggest home winZhejiang Energy Greentown 4–0 Jiangxi Liansheng
(16 September 2020)
Changchun Yatai 4–0 Nantong Zhiyun
(8 October 2020)

Beijing BSU 4–0 Suzhou Dongwu
(15 October 2020)
Biggest away winJiangxi Liansheng 0–4 Meizhou Hakka
(20 September 2020)

Liaoning Shenyang Urban 1–5 Zhejiang Energy Greentown
(15 October 2020)
Highest scoringLiaoning Shenyang Urban 1–5 Zhejiang Energy Greentown
(15 October 2020)

Meizhou Hakka 4–2 Zhejiang Energy Greentown
(29 October 2020)

Nantong Zhiyun 3–3 Jiangxi Liansheng
(8 November 2020)
Longest winning run5 matches
Chengdu Better City
Longest unbeaten run11 matches
Changchun Yatai
Longest winless run15 matches
Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard
Longest losing run5 matches
Jiangxi Liansheng
2019
2021

In this season, the number of teams are expanded from 16 to 18.[4]

Changchun Yatai won the league for the second time, their first since 2003.

Teams

Team changes

Name changes

Clubs

Stadiums and locations

Team[8]Head CoachCityStadiumCapacity2019 season
Beijing Renhe R Wang BoBeijingBeijing Fengtai Stadium31,043CSL, 16th
Guizhou Hengfeng Chen MaoGuiyangGuiyang Olympic Sports Center51,6363rd
Heilongjiang Lava Spring Duan XinHarbinHarbin ICE Sports Center50,0004th
Changchun Yatai Chen YangChangchunChangchun Stadium41,6385th
Zhejiang Energy Greentown Zheng XiongHangzhouHuzhou Olympic Sports Centre40,0006th
Inner Mongolia Zhongyou Choi Jin-hanHohhotHohhot City Stadium51,6327th
Beijing BSU Su MaozhenBeijingOlympic Sports Centre36,2288th
Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic Kim Bong-gilXi'anWeinan Sports Center Stadium32,0009th
Meizhou Hakka Marcelo RospideWuhuaHuitang Stadium30,00010th
Nantong Zhiyun Xie HuiRugaoRugao Olympic Sports Center15,00012th
Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard Polat Kutulk (caretaker)ÜrümqiXinjiang Sports Centre50,00013th
Liaoning Shenyang Urban P Yu MingShenyangShenyang Urban Construction University Stadium12,000CL2, 1st
Chengdu Better City P José Carlos GraneroChengduChengdu Longquanyi Football Stadium42,000CL2, 2nd
Taizhou Yuanda P Yin TieshengTaizhouTaixing Sports Center Stadium8,000CL2, 3rd
Suzhou Dongwu P Gary WhiteSuzhouSuzhou Olympic Sports Centre45,000CL2, 4th
Jiangxi Liansheng P Huang YongRuichangRuichang Sports Park StadiumN/ACL2, 6th
Sichuan Jiuniu P Li YiChengduChengdu Longquanyi Football Stadium27,000CL2, 8th
Kunshan F.C. P Gao YaoKunshanKunshan Sports Centre Stadium30,000CL2, 9th

Clubs locations

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Changchun Yatai Svetozar ŠapurićSacked3 November 2019Pre-season Samvel Babayan2 December 2019
Meizhou Hakka Zheng XiaotianSigned by Beijing Sinobo Guoan6 November 2019 Marcelo Rospide20 December 2019
Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic Wang BoSigned by Beijing Renhe10 November 2019 Kim Bong-gil16 December 2019
Guizhou Hengfeng Chen MaoMutual consent26 November 2019 Wang Xinxin26 November 2019
Nantong Zhiyun Gary WhiteMutual consent31 March 2020 Xie Hui31 March 2020
Sichuan Jiuniu Wang HongweiMutual consent18 May 2020 Li Yi22 July 2020
Inner Mongolia Zhongyou Chen YangMutual consent25 August 2020 Choi Jin-han1 September 2020
Changchun Yatai Samvel BabayanSacked5 October 2020Group C, 2nd Chen Yang5 October 2020
Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard FernandoSacked10 October 2020Group C, 6th Polat Kutulk (caretaker)12 October 2020
Guizhou Hengfeng Wang XinxinMutual consent13 October 2020Group B, 5th Chen Mao13 October 2020
Suzhou Dongwu Liu JunweiSacked18 October 2020Group A, 5th Gary White24 October 2020

Foreign players

The policy of foreign players was changed. The number of foreign players clubs can register over the course of the season is limited to four and the number of foreign players allowed on each team at any given time is increased from three to four. A maximum of three foreign players can be registered for each match with a maximum of two can be fielded at any time during the match. In addition, each club can register a Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan player of Chinese descent (excluding goalkeepers), provided that he registered as a professional footballer in one of those three association for the first time, as a native player.

  • Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
TeamPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Naturalized PlayersHong Kong/Macau/
Taiwan Players1
Former players
Beijing BSU John Owoeri Wen Chih-hao Dominic Vinicius
Beijing Renhe Tiago Leonço Daniel Wong
Changchun Yatai Serginho Lucas Souza Aaron Samuel Chen Po-liang
Chengdu Better City Naldinho Dani Quintana Nikola Đurđić
Guizhou Hengfeng Jahmir Hyka Anton Maglica Stefan Mihajlović Sérgio Mota
Heilongjiang Lava Spring Raphaël Messi Bouli Donovan Ewolo Yoann Arquin
Inner Mongolia Zhongyou Guto André Senghor Daniel Wong
Jiangxi Liansheng Vasil Shkurti Éder Okan Aydın Andy Russell Junior Tobi[10]
Kunshan F.C. Bruno Pires Hildeberto Pereira Tunde Adeniji Xiao Taotao
Liaoning Shenyang Urban Juvhel Tsoumou Islom Tukhtakhujaev Kim Sung-hwan
Meizhou Hakka Lonsana Doumbouya Chisom Egbuchulam Leung Nok Hang Dori
Nantong Zhiyun Mychell Chagas João Silva Mladen Kovačević David Wang
Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic Albi Alla Raoul Loé Robert Tambe Wang Chien-ming Kingsley Onuegbu
Sichuan Jiuniu Dori Mohamed Yattara Nemanja Vidić Xia Dalong Jules Iloki
Suzhou Dongwu Jules Iloki Joseph Atule Junior Chris Shimbayev Haruna Garba
Taizhou Yuanda Marko Bašić Daniel Chima Chukwu Zoran Tošić
Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard Bienvenue Kanakimana Kingsley Onuegbu
Zhejiang Energy Greentown Rafael Martins Dino Ndlovu Nyasha Mushekwi
  • ^1 For Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwanese players, if they are non-naturalized and were registered as professional footballers in Hong Kong's, Macau's, or Chinese Taipei's football association for the first time, they are recognized as native players. Otherwise they are recognized as foreign players.

Regular season

Group A

Stadiums

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Chengdu Better City (H)10811157+825Qualification for Promotion stage and qualification to the 2020 Chinese FA Cup
2Taizhou Yuanda10532138+518
3Beijing Renhe105141412+216Qualification for Relegation stage Group E
4Beijing BSU103251414011
5Suzhou Dongwu10217715−87[a]Qualification for Relegation stage Group F
6Inner Mongolia Zhongyou10145512−77[a]
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification:
  • During season: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.
  • After season: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Scores of the weight ratio of the reserve league and youth leagues.
    (H) Hosts
    Notes:

Results

Home \ AwayBSUBJRCDBIMZSZDTZY
Beijing BSU0–10–11–04–00–2
Beijing Renhe3–23–21–21–01–2
Chengdu Better City1–03–21–02–10–0
Inner Mongolia Zhongyou2–20–00–20–21–1
Suzhou Dongwu2–30–20–10–02–1
Taizhou Yuanda2–21–01–22–01–0
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Positions by round

To preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 7, but then played between rounds 8 and 9, it will be added to the standings for round 8.

Team ╲ Round12345678910
Chengdu Better City1111111111
Taizhou Yuanda3232222332
Beijing Renhe4323333223
Beijing BSU2445444544
Suzhou Dongwu6666666455
Inner Mongolia Zhongyou5554555666
Qualification to Promotion stage
Qualification to Relegation stage
Source: [citation needed]

Results by match played

Team ╲ Round12345678910
Beijing BSUWLLLWDLLDW
Beijing RenheLWWLLWWWDL
Chengdu Better CityWWWWWLWDWW
Inner Mongolia ZhongyouLDDWLDLLDL
Suzhou DongwuLLDLLWLWLL
Taizhou YuandaWDLWWLWDDW
Source: [citation needed]
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Group B

Stadiums

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Meizhou Hakka (H)10640209+1122Qualification for Promotion stage and qualification to the 2020 Chinese FA Cup
2Zhejiang Energy Greentown10541198+1119
3Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic104331110+115Qualification for Relegation stage Group F
4Guizhou Hengfeng10244912−310Qualification for Relegation stage Group E
5Liaoning Shenyang Urban10235914−59
6Jiangxi Liansheng10127621−155Qualification for Relegation stage Group F
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification:
  • During season: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.
  • After season: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Scores of the weight ratio of the reserve league and youth leagues.
    (H) Hosts

Results

Home \ AwayGZHJXLLSUMZKSCAZJG
Guizhou Hengfeng1–10–20–11–01–1
Jiangxi Liansheng1–30–20–40–10–2
Liaoning Shenyang Urban1–10–12–21–11–5
Meizhou Hakka0–03–22–03–22–2
Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic3–11–11–00–21–1
Zhejiang Energy Greentown2–14–01–01–10–1
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Positions by round

To preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 7, but then played between rounds 8 and 9, it will be added to the standings for round 8.

Team ╲ Round12345678910
Meizhou Hakka1211111111
Zhejiang Energy Greentown5122222222
Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic4346643333
Guizhou Hengfeng2453334454
Liaoning Shenyang Urban6534455545
Jiangxi Liansheng3665566666
Qualification to Promotion stage
Qualification to Relegation stage
Source: [citation needed]

Results by match played

Team ╲ Round12345678910
Guizhou HengfengDDLWWLLDLD
Jiangxi LianshengDLLWLLLLLD
Liaoning Shenyang UrbanLDWLLDLDWL
Meizhou HakkaWDWDWDWWDW
Shaanxi Chang'an AthleticDDDLLWWWWL
Zhejiang Energy GreentownDWDDWWWLDW
Source: [citation needed]
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Group C

Stadiums

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Changchun Yatai10631207+1321Qualification for Promotion stage and qualification to the 2020 Chinese FA Cup
2Kunshan F.C. (H)10532107+318
3Nantong Zhiyun1044299016Qualification for Relegation stage Group F
4Heilongjiang Lava Spring1017256−110
5Sichuan Jiuniu10163812−49Qualification for Relegation stage Group E
6Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard10037516−113
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification:
  • During season: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.
  • After season: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Scores of the weight ratio of the reserve league and youth leagues.
    (H) Hosts

Results

Home \ AwayCCHLJKSNTZSCJXJT
Changchun Yatai2–10–14–01–14–1
Heilongjiang Lava Spring1–10–00–11–10–0
Kunshan F.C.1–30–10–01–13–2
Nantong Zhiyun0–01–10–11–12–0
Sichuan Jiuniu1–30–00–21–20–0
Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard0–20–00–11–21–2
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Positions by round

To preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 7, but then played between rounds 8 and 9, it will be added to the standings for round 8.

Team ╲ Round12345678910
Changchun Yatai3112232111
Kunshan F.C.1221111222
Nantong Zhiyun2333323333
Heilongjiang Lava Spring4444444444
Sichuan Jiuniu5555555555
Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard6666666666
Qualification to Promotion stage
Qualification to Relegation stage
Source: [citation needed]

Results by match played

Team ╲ Round12345678910
Changchun YataiWWDLWDWWWD
Heilongjiang Lava SpringLDDDLDDWDD
Kunshan F.C.WDDWWDWLLW
Nantong ZhiyunWDDDWWLLWD
Sichuan JiuniuLDDDLDDWLD
Xinjiang Tianshan LeopardLLDDLLLLDL
Source: [citation needed]
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Promotion stage

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Changchun Yatai (C, P)541080+813Promotion to the Chinese Super League
2Zhejiang Energy Greentown531185+310Qualification to the promotion play-offs
3Kunshan F.C.521245−17
4Chengdu Better City521257−27
5Meizhou Hakka52037706
6Taizhou Yuanda[a] (D)5005311−80Disbanded after season
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification:
  • During season: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.
  • After season: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Scores of the weight ratio of the reserve league and youth leagues.
    (C) Champions; (D) Disqualified; (P) Promoted
    Notes:

Results

Home \ AwayCCCDBKSMZHTZYZJG
Changchun Yatai2–01–00–0
Chengdu Better City0–32–12–1
Kunshan F.C.1–11–0
Meizhou Hakka2–14–2
Taizhou Yuanda0–20–21–3
Zhejiang Energy Greentown1–02–0
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Positions by round

To preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 7, but then played between rounds 8 and 9, it will be added to the standings for round 8.

Leader and promotion to the Chinese Super League
Qualification to the promotion play-offs
Source: [citation needed]

Results by match played

Source: [citation needed]
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Relegation stage

Group E

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Guizhou Hengfeng5401114+712Qualification to the 2020 Chinese FA Cup
2Beijing BSU522174+38
3Sichuan Jiuniu522165+18
4Liaoning Shenyang Urban512258−35
5Beijing Renhe[a] (R, D, R)5113612−64Qualification to the relegation play-offs and disbanded after season
6Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard (O)503257−23Qualification to the relegation play-offs
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification:
  • During season: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.
  • After season: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Scores of the weight ratio of the reserve league and youth leagues.
    (D) Disqualified; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
    Notes:

Results

Home \ AwayBSUBJRGZHLSUSCJXJT
Beijing BSU3–01–01–1
Beijing Renhe2–33–2
Guizhou Hengfeng2–13–0
Liaoning Shenyang Urban0–30–02–2
Sichuan Jiuniu1–12–1
Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard1–11–20–1
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Positions by round

To preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 7, but then played between rounds 8 and 9, it will be added to the standings for round 8.

Qualification to the relegation play-offs
Source: [citation needed]

Results by match played

Source: [citation needed]
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Group F

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Suzhou Dongwu52215508Qualification to the 2020 Chinese FA Cup
2Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic51313306[a]
3Nantong Zhiyun51317706[a]
4Inner Mongolia Zhongyou[b] (D, R, R, R, R)513187+16[a]Disbanded after season
5Heilongjiang Lava Spring (O)50503305Qualification to the relegation play-offs
6Jiangxi Liansheng (O)504189−14
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification:
  • During season: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.
  • After season: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Scores of the weight ratio of the reserve league and youth leagues.
    (D) Disqualified; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
    Notes:

Results

Home \ AwayHLJIMZJXLNTZSCASZD
Heilongjiang Lava Spring1–10–00–0
Inner Mongolia Zhongyou1–11–1
Jiangxi Liansheng1–12–2
Nantong Zhiyun2–13–31–1
Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic1–11–0
Suzhou Dongwu1–32–11–0
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Positions by round

To preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 7, but then played between rounds 8 and 9, it will be added to the standings for round 8.

Qualification to the relegation play-offs
Source: [citation needed]

Results by match played

Source: [citation needed]
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Relegation play-offs

Overview

Team 1Agg.Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard4–4 (3–5 p)Heilongjiang Lava Spring3–21–2 (a.e.t.)
Jiangxi Liansheng3–2Beijing Renhe2–11–1

First leg

Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard3–2Heilongjiang Lava Spring
Referee: Niu Minghui

Jiangxi Liansheng2–1Beijing Renhe
Referee: Xu Qiangqiang

Second leg

Heilongjiang Lava Spring2–1 (a.e.t.)Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard
Penalties
5–3
Referee: Wan Tao

4–4 on aggregate. Heilongjiang Lava Spring won 5–3 on penalties.


Beijing Renhe1–1Jiangxi Liansheng
Referee: Li Haixin

Jiangxi Liansheng won 3–2 on aggregate.

Statistics

Top scorers

As of 21 November 2020
RankPlayerClubGoals[12]
1 Tan LongChangchun Yatai
11
2 Lonsana DoumbouyaMeizhou Hakka
8
Tiago LeonçoBeijing Renhe
8
4 Shang YinJiangxi Liansheng
7
Nyasha MushekwiZhejiang Energy Greentown
7
6 Rafael MartinsZhejiang Energy Greentown
6
Yan XiangchuangBeijing BSU
6
Dino NdlovuZhejiang Energy Greentown
6
9 GutoInner Mongolia Zhongyou
5
Mladen KovačevićNantong Zhiyun
5
Anton MaglicaGuizhou Hengfeng
5
Xu JunminNantong Zhiyun
5

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDateRef
Tan LongChangchun YataiXinjiang Tianshan Leopard4–1 (H)3 October 2020
Nantong Zhiyun4–0 (H)8 October 2020

League attendance

Notes

References