Jack Clarke struck a late winner as Ipswich Town marked their return to the Premier League in style with a 2-1 victory over Sunderland at Portman Road.
Former Black Cats winger Clarke played super-sub, firing into the net in the 90th-minute to raise the roof off Portman Road and hand Gary O’Neil victory in his first game in charge.
Emersonn had struck on his Blues debut, only for Nilson Angulo’s free-kick to bring Sunderland back level inside the first half.
O’Neil handed out six full debuts in his starting XI and was rewarded with his name serenaded by the Town supporters at full-time as their season got off to the perfect start.
Perhaps inspired by Sunderland’s own success as a newly-promoted side last season, the Blues more than matched their visitors and were value for their late winner during a competitive clash on Suffolk soil.
Their next clash, and their first on the road this term, comes against Manchester United at Old Trafford next Sunday after Tuesday’s cup meeting with Leicester City.
Leif Davis was required to do some defending in the early stages to snuff out Brian Brobbey with an important block after he had powered away from Trai Hume’s pass.
Brazilian striker Emersonn had the Blues’ first sight of goal soon after, using his status as target man to win a header that Robin Roefs nearly fumbled.
Town’s record signing would lift the roof off Portman Road after 24 minutes with the opening goal of the game, which came after some fine work from Julio Enciso on his second debut for the club.
After pouncing on a loose pass, the Paraguay international picked up the ball in his own half and skipped beyond both Luke O’Nien and Dan Ballard to burst through on goal.
From there, Enciso unselfishly laid off for the onrushing Emersonn to finish into the empty net on his first Town appearance.
Brobbey’s powerful header forced fellow Dutchman Kjell Scherpen into a strong stop as the visitors sought about an immediate response.
Town looked threatening when they carved out attacks of their own, with Emersonn proving a handful with power down the left which soon saw Enciso fire over the bar.
But after Issa Diop had felled Granit Xhaka, Sunderland fired in an equaliser through an excellently struck free-kick from Angulo.
Left of centre from 25 yards out, Angulo curled into the top corner off the underside of the bar despite the desperate dive of 6ft 9in keeper Scherpen.
Enciso’s magic soon after half-time almost put Town back in front, but his inventive hooked effort from Abdul Fatawu’s cross with his back to goal just evaded the far post.
Straight at the other end, Marcelino Núñez, deputising for the injured Florentino Luís in midfield, was required to produce an important block to prevent Brobbey from giving Sunderland the lead.
Daizen Maeda, one of six full debutants, could not quite get on the end of Emersonn’s headed cutback after Enciso again had some joy in possession down the right.
O’Neil threw on last season’s top scorer Clarke in an attempt to edge the game in the Blues’ favour, and it worked a treat as Portman Road erupted with a late winner.
Luke O’Nien’s pass was cutout by Saša Lukić in midfield, who allowed Clarke to do the rest on the edge of the box.
The winger made space on his right foot to curl into the far corner beyond Roefs to hand Town a memorable victory on Suffolk soil.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1): Scherpen; O’Shea (c), Diop, Greaves, Davis; Núñez (Walle Egeli 80), Lukić; Fatawu (McAteer 66), Enciso (Clarke 71), Maeda (Ouattara 80); Emersonn (Akpom 66). Subs: Walton, Furlong, Kipré, Walle Egeli, Humphreys.
Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Meunier, Ballard, O’Nien (Alderete 67), Reinildo; Xhaka (c), Sadiki; Hume (Rigg 80), Le Fée (Diarra 80), Angulo (Talbi 59); Brobbey (Isidor 67). Subs: Ellborg, Mundle, Mukiele, Ta Bi.
Booked: Ballard, Angulo, O’Nien.
Referee: Farai Hallam (Surrey).
Attendance: 29,669
Suffolk News Man of the Match: Julio Enciso. Town’s big money star made a stamp on his second debut for the club, playing a huge role in the Blues’ opener and producing moments of magic throughout.