Manchester City struck three times in the space of 10 second-half minutes to get their latest Champions League campaign off to a winning start with a 3-0 victory against Viktoria Plzen.
City were frustrated by the Czech champions in the first half at the compact Doosan Arena but burst into life after the break with goals from Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero.
The lively Aguero had also hit the post in the first half while Matus Kozacik also made good early saves from Dzeko and Jesus Navas in the Group D encounter.
The result was the perfect start in the competition for City's new manager Manuel Pellegrini and lifted spirits after a mixed start to the campaign ahead of Sunday's derby against Manchester United.
Pellegrini's previous record in the Champions League, having taken Villarreal to the semi-finals and Malaga to the last eight, was one of City's prime reasons for appointing him in the summer.
A day after his 60th birthday, he got what he hopes will be another prolonged run up and running with an ultimately convincing win.
Reigning champions Bayern Munich will doubtless provide a sterner test in their next fixture but City's challenge is already looking better than last season's, when they failed to win a match.
City also looked stronger for the return of captain Vincent Kompany, who had missed the previous three games with a groin injury.
It took City time to make their mark against a Plzen side unbeaten in 14 games this season but once the deadlock was broken the result was never in doubt.
Source: PA
