In the four matches played on the 23rd, Sichuan Jiuiu team beat Shijiazhuang Kungfu team by 1:0, the victory thanks to the long-distance shot scored by foreign aid Ortiz. The former Chinese Super League (CSL) "Eight Champions" Guangzhou team drew with Liaoning Shenyang City team.
In Shijiazhuang, Sichuan Jiuniu firmly took the initiative throughout the match, creating several scoring opportunities. Shijiazhuang Kung Fu made a misplaced pass in the 67th minute, and foreigner Ortiz scored from long range after the break. The two sides later attacked and defended each other, but the 1:0 score remained until the end, and Sichuan Jiu Niu opened the season.
Despite being relegated from the Chinese Super League to the Central League, Guangzhou still attracted more than 8,000 fans to cheer on the field in their first game of the new season. Guangzhou dominated the entire game, with 70% of the ball possession and a higher number of shots than their opponents, but never broke through the door of Shenyang City. In the end, the two teams shook hands and made a draw.
Dandong won the other two matches of the day in Tengyue 1:Shanghai Jiading Huilong 1 draw and Suzhou Dongwu 1 draw:0 over Yanbian Longding.
By 2023, the Central League will resume the home-and-away system, with a total of 16 teams set to take part in 30 rounds of fixtures, playing a total of 240 matches. In the opening match on the 22nd, Dongguan Guanlian defeated Wuxi Wuhu at home with a score of 1:0.
