Pep Guardiola gave debuts to Stefan Ortega, Julian Alvarez, and Kalvin Phillips as Manchester City beat Club America 2-1 in their 2022 pre-season opener.
The majority of the pre-match attention was on Erling Haaland, but the City newcomer sat on the bench the entire game.
City did have a new striker on display, however, as Argentina international Alvarez played 71 minutes at NRG Stadium in Houston.
There was also a new face at the back, as German goalkeeper Ortega played the entire 90 minutes, while ex-Leeds midfielder Phillips played 45 minutes.
But it was a well-known City star who stole the show in America.
Kevin De Bruyne scored twice in the first half, either side of a Henry Martin equalizer, to give City a winning start to what will be a brief pre-season – they play Bayern Munich in their only other friendly on Saturday.
De Bruyne's first goal came from a long distance.
After Riyad Mahrez had opened up the defense with a brilliant pass, he scored his second goal with a low shot between the keeper's legs.
AMERICASTEFAN ORTEGARIYAD CLUB JULIAN ALVAREZ KALVIN MAHREZMANCHESTER CITY GUARDIOLAKEVIN DE BRUYNE BY PHILLIPSPEP.
