Nicolae Stanciu mobbed by fans in China after Dalian Yingbo victory

Nicolae Stanciu, the 32-year-old captain of Dalian Yingbo and the Romania national team, has become an idol in China. Following a decisive performance in his team's 1-0 victory over league leaders Chengdu Rongcheng, the midfielder was mobbed by fans on the street seeking photos and autographs.

Stanciu revealed that the incident occurred during a simple evening walk to buy ice cream with the team doctor. He shared images of the encounter on Instagram, expressing surprise at the level of adoration. In his post, Stanciu stated that he never imagined he would need the fans more than they needed him when he joined the club in January.

The post drew attention from fellow Romania international Darius Olaru, who commented on the update. The viral moment highlights Stanciu's growing status in the Chinese Super League as the season reaches its climax.

The victory over Chengdu has significant implications for the title race. Dalian Yingbo now sits in second place with 49 points, just three points behind the leaders. In the final round of the season, Chengdu faces a difficult away match against fourth-placed Shandong Taishan.

Meanwhile, Dalian will host Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, a team that has already avoided relegation concerns. For Dalian to win the championship, they must secure a victory while hoping Chengdu loses their match. If the two teams finish with equal points, the title will be decided by head-to-head results.

Dalian holds the advantage in direct confrontations, having defeated Chengdu 2-0 and 1-0 in their previous meetings this season. This tiebreaker rule places the Romanian-led side in a strong position should the points gap close in the final week.