Manchester City fought back from 3-0 down to beat Chelsea 4-3 in a thrilling friendly at a sold-out Busch Stadium in St Louis.
City, who confirmed this week that they have acquired a Major League Soccer franchise, fell behind to goals from Demba Ba, Cesar Azpilicueta and Oscar.
But Javi Garcia began the fightback, Edin Dzeko struck twice and Micah Richards grabbed a dramatic late winner in front of a crowd of 48,263.
Whilst the match did not quite have the intensity of a Premier League match, it was far from half-hearted.
City made all the early running and Chelsea's opener was against the run of play, Joe Hart misjudging Juan Mata's cross and allowing Ba to nod home.
Petr Cech kept out a long-range Yaya Toure effort and Carlos Tevez went close with an overhead kick.
But on the stroke of half-time Karim Rekik was adjudged to have bundled over Mata and Azpilicueta converted from the spot.
Just after half-time City gave the ball away in front of their own area and Oscar danced through to take the ball round replacement goalkeeper Richard Wright.
Then came City's magnificent fightback. Garcia turned in from a corner moments after substitute goalkeeper Jamal Blackman came on and Dzeko then finished expertly from a beautifully weighted James
Milner pass.
Blackman then somehow kept out Milner's close range volley, then did superbly to keep out another Dzeko attempt.
But the equaliser came on 85 when Tevez slipped in Dzeko and Richards turned in Garcia's nod-down.
The two teams will meet again at Yankee Stadium in New York on Saturday.
Begovic's future has been the subject of intense speculation for some time and the January capture of Jack Butland from Birmingham only intensified talk that the Bosnian stopper would be sold by the Potters.
Manchester United were initially thought to be keen, but the much-improved performances of David De Gea ended their interest, leaving Liverpool and Arsenal as his most likely destinations.
However, quoted by The Sun, Begovic said: "I want to start preparing on July 10, with all the players of Liverpool."
Neither Stoke or Liverpool have confirmed the news, but with doubts surrounding the future of Reds keeper Pepe Reina, the signing of Begovic would not come as a major surprise.
The 24-year-old Frenchman only joined from Blackburn last summer, but has already set his sights on a move away from the Britannia.
Stoke chairman Peter Coates told the Daily Telegraph: "I can confirm that we have received a written transfer request from Steven Nzonzi. We are not unduly worried about the situation as he is our player and has three years remaining on his contract."
Pulis departed the club on Tuesday after seven years in charge.
Stoke have not yet appointed a replacement but whoever it is will surely want Nzonzi, who was named the club's Young Player of the Year, on board.
The 22-year-old Belgium international scored 19 Premier League goals this season and has been linked to with a move away from Villa Park, with Arsenal among the teams mentioned as a possible destination.
Quoted by The Sun, Benteke said: "If Aston Villa say I must stay, I won't necessarily accept that. I do not in any way want to feel I didn't get the most out of my career. I try to get everything.
"Of course playing the World Cup in Rio is in my head. But I have no fear of falling out of the team. There is no point in me getting into a tug-of-war with Villa.
"If the chance comes up for me to join a club like Arsenal, I'm convinced we can reach a compromise where everyone comes out a winner."
