Defender David Unsworth capped an impressive debut by firing home an unstoppable penalty to give Portsmouth a deserved draw in the sunshine at Fratton Park against Birmingham City.
Blues boss Steve Bruce had invested heavily during the close season in adding to his squad and was hoping to celebrate the signing of a new five-year contract at St. Andrew's with victory on the opening day of the new campaign.
Bruce gave a start to four of his five new arrivals, including England striker Emile Heskey and former Chelsea duo Jesper Gronkjaer and Mario Melchiot.
But it was Unsworth who outshone them with a display full of composure on his first appearance in a Portsmouth shirt since completing a free transfer move from Everton last month.
Pompey boss Harry Redknapp handed the ex England defender the role of penalty taker upon his arrival on the South Coast and Unsworth quickly repaid the faith by comfortably netting from the spot after being giving a chance in the 15th minute.
Referee Howard Webb adjudged Aussie Stan Lazaridis to have pushed winger Steve Stone in the area and Unsworth easily beat keeper Maik Taylor, as he sent him the wrong way from the spot.
The defender almost scored another with quarter of an hour remaining as his low shot from the edge of the area caused Northern Ireland international Taylor to fumble at his near post, but the keeper was quickly on his feet to produce a fine block to deny Lomana Tresor LuaLua on the follow up.
Birmingham were quickly off the mark and took the lead with their first effort on goal in the 10th minute through battling midfielder Robbie Savage.
Damien Johnson was hauled down on the edge of the area by home defender Dejan Stefanovic and the Welsh international stepped up to curl an unstoppable free-kick home from 20 yards into the top right-hand corner giving goal Pompey keeper Shaka Hislop no chance.
Savage was in the thick of the action and it was no surprise when he was booked for a late challenge on Unsworth two minutes after the defender had equalised for Pompey.
Birmingham defender Martin Taylor was lucky not to be sent off in the 24th minute when he escaped with a yellow card after tripping up Yakubu Ayegbeni on the edge of his own area as he made to cut back on goal.
But the visitors should have regained their advantage four minutes later through Heskey. Gronkjaer delivered an inviting centre from the left, but Heskey headed too close to Hislop, who made a fumbling save and Muzzy Izzet blazed the follow up over the bar.
Yakubu wasted a golden opportunity to open his goal account for the season on the half hour mark when a delightful pass from Patrik Berger left him with just the goalkeeper to beat, but Taylor stood his ground before saving well to his left.
Yakubu and Lua Lua caused problems all afternoon for Birmingham's defence, but it was the Blues who had the two best opportunities to grab the three points after the interval.
Australian Lazaridis, playing in an unfamiliar role at left-back rather than the left side of midfield, abandoned his defensive duties for once to race down the flank before cutting in on goal and unleashing a right-foot shot which fizzed past the far upright with Hislop beaten.
Heskey, the record £6.25million signing from Liverpool during the summer, was growing in confidence as the second half progressed and as the Portsmouth defence tired, he almost fashioned a winner for himself in injury time.
The giant striker recieved the ball with his back to goal, but turned in a flash before unleashing a crisp left-foot shot that was destined for the top left-hand corner, but Hislop flung himself to his right to save as Pompey hung on for a point.