Erling Haaland and Phil Foden rescued their new signing Abdukodir Khusanov as Manchester City came from behind to defeat Chelsea 3-1. Khusanov, the £33.6m Uzbekistan defender signed from Lens this week, endured a nightmare Premier League debut.
The defender erred in a way that cost Chelsea a goal and was also booked within the first four minutes.
Noni Madueke capitalized on an error to provide the visitors with a shock lead at the Etihad Stadium, but Josko Gvardiol leveled. The prolific pair of Haaland and Foden then sealed victory in the second half.
The victory moved City back above Chelsea into the top four and provided a boost to their confidence after they were hammered by Paris St Germain in midweek.
City manager Pep Guardiola chose to play Khusanov in a difficult position just days after signing him as injuries ruled out regulars.
Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias were missing, and John Stones was only available for the bench.
It was a tough test for the 20-year-old, who played for less glamorous Energetik-BGU in Belarus when City won the treble in 2023.
He was anxious in front of a large crowd, and there was FIFA president Gianni Infantino in it. That was evident, particularly after his team-mate Omar Marmoush nearly began his City life on the right note.
The £59million Egyptian forward was played in by Matheus Nunes and, while he hit the ball too forcefully, he shot at Robert Sanchez and the goalkeeper diverted it.
In the same minute, play was at the other end, and Khusanov was left embarrassed for not dealing with the bouncing ball as he tried heading it backwards to Ederson but got everything wrong.
Nicolas Jackson took advantage of the mistake and cut the ball across the box as Madueke scored with ease.
The ball was still flying off Khusanov's head as he produced a poor pass shortly afterwards and then took down Cole Palmer, which was undoubtedly a yellow card offence.
Khusanov was lucky it was not worse as Palmer ran past him during a Chelsea attack, but the former City man kicked the ball too far forward, and the home side were fortunate.
City were aware the best defence was attack, and Foden hit a great shot that hit the post.
Marmoush believed he had equalised when he scored from close range after a Haaland shot was blocked and Ilkay Gundogan's attempt was saved, but the offside flag was raised.
Gvardiol had two opportunities to score; first, he hit the target over, then he hit wide, but he finally got his reward three minutes before half-time.
Marmoush was involved again as he pursued a Gundogan's ball. Marc Cucurella got in front of him, but while trying to clear the ball, it deflected off Sanchez and fell to Gvardiol, who took a shot from a tight angle.
After Khusanov had come on in the 54th minute, Haaland had all but scored for City, but for the intervention of Sanchez, who saved with his legs. The Norwegian striker fed Marmoush for another opportunity, but it was off-target.
But he was not to be denied for much longer as Ederson played a long ball to him before he quickly turned Trevoh Chalobah.
Chalobah, playing his second game since coming back from a loan spell at Crystal Palace, lost his balance as he tried to catch up. With Sanchez well down the field from his goal, Haaland slipped the ball into the empty net in the 68th minute.
Chelsea were unable to get back into the game, and they were punished again three minutes into added time when Haaland teed up Foden, and the Englishman did not let his country down.