Wellington Silva of Chengdu Rongcheng (left) celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Chinese Super League match against Shenzhen Peng City on March 6, 2026 in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province. Photo: IC

The 2026 Chinese Super League (CSL) season kicked off on Friday with an enthralling season opener in which hosts Chengdu Rongcheng came from behind to defeat Shenzhen Peng City 5-1. 

Albion Ademi of Shenzhen scored the first goal of the match in the fifth minute, but their left back and captain Jiang Zhipeng was sent off in the 18th minute after a serious foul against Chengdu's new signing Wellington Silva, dealing a heavy blow to the visitors. 

Electrifying the home crowd atmosphere, Silva leveled for Chengdu in the 20th minute with a powerful shot in the penalty area, and teammate Felipe added a second goal in the 31st minute. Chengdu defender Hu Hetao then scored in stoppage time before the half-time break, giving his team a two-goal margin.

Chengdu continued their offensive storm in the second half, with Silva scoring his second goal in the 63rd minute before 22-year-old substitute Liao Rongxiang netted the fifth goal for the hosts in the 79th minute.

The result positions Chengdu at the top of the league standings early on, as both teams entered the campaign with zero penalty points in a league marked by unprecedented disciplinary actions against nine clubs.

The opening ceremony, held at Rongcheng's home ground, blended traditional Bashu culture with the spirit of football. It featured artistic performances, team flag displays, the handover of the league trophy, and pledges from players and referees. 

The season opener also carried a reunion narrative, with former Chengdu captain Tim Chow and ex-Shenzhen forward Baihelamu Abuduwaili facing their previous clubs. 

Chow, a 32-year-old midfielder born in England with Chinese ancestry, joined Shenzhen in January 2026 after a successful stint with Chengdu since 2021. He has made over 100 appearances in the CSL, and had established himself as a key figure for the club. 

Baihelamu, a 22-year-old forward from Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, transferred to Chengdu from Shenzhen in February 2026. He has established himself as a starter for the Chinese national team. 

Under new Australian head coach John Aloisi, a 50-year-old Socceroos legend who was appointed in January this year, Chengdu are hoping to build on their strong 2025 campaign, which they finished in the third place. 

Aloisi joins a growing Australian coaching contingent in China, including his brother Ross Aloisi at Zhejiang FC and others like Kevin Muscat with Shanghai Port and Nick Montgomery at Beijing Guoan. 

Aloisi's arrival signals ambition that Chengdu can push for a first CSL title, based on a strong squad featuring talents like forward Wei Shihao (captain) and Brazilian midfielder Romulo. 

Shenzhen, rebranded and relocated from Sichuan Jiuniu in 2024, entered the match as underdogs but with promise. Founded in 2017, they achieved promotion to the CSL as 2023 China League One champions. They have been under the ownership of City Football Group, the parent company of Manchester City, since 2019. 

This season's CSL features a unique landscape, with nine of the 16 teams starting with penalty points following a historical corruption probe. The sanctions stem from match-fixing and gambling investigations. 

Clubs like Shanghai Shenhua and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger face -10 points each, Qingdao Hainiu -7, Henan FC and Shandong Taishan -6, and reigning champions Shanghai Port, along with Zhejiang FC, Beijing Guoan, and Wuhan Three Towns on -5.