Geovanni edged the battle of the Brazilians as he salvaged Hull an entertaining 2-2 draw against former club Manchester City at the KC Stadium.
Robinho, drafted in by the Eastlands side for 32.5million pound after his compatriot's release on a free transfer, was lively but overshadowed by team-mate Stephen Ireland who grabbed both the visitors' goals.
Two horrendous defensive gaffes, from Tal Ben-Haim and Kamil Zayatte, made it 1-1 before a sublime second from Ireland and Geovanni's deflected free-kick cancelled each other out.
Ben-Haim was in the starting XI because of captain Richard Dunne's suspension - a fact which also saw British record signing Robinho handed the armband.
Hull boss Phil Brown, meanwhile, drafted in Sam Ricketts for the injured Andy Dawson and kept faith with striker Marlon King, despite his midweek bust-up with team-mate Dean Windass.
A George Boateng foul after just two minutes gave Robinho a chance to try his luck from range, but his free-kick squirmed tamely wide.
Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill was also in action early on, showing good awareness when leaving his area to clear a dangerous through ball.
After 10 minutes, Hull created a fine chance which was spurned captain Ian Ashbee.
Sam Ricketts whipped in a cross from the left, allowing Dean Marney to cushion a first-time pass to Ashbee, who scuffed his effort low and wide.
Hull was ahead four minutes later, though, Ben-Haim to blame for a defensive howler.
Micah Richards rolled the ball to his defensive partner and, with only Cousin in attendance and minimal pressure on, the Israeli inexplicably played the striker in six yards from goal.
Cousin slotted home with ease, while keeper Joe Hart was left injured on the turf.
He limped off minutes later, all but ensuring his withdrawal from the England squad, with Kasper Schmeichel his replacement.
Geovanni, quiet in the opening exchanges, tried some crowd-pleasing footwork on the left wing after 23 minutes but was bundled, strongly but fairly, into touch by Pablo Zabaleta.
Paul McShane then earned the second booking of the game, following the clumsy Ben-Haim into the book, for a late slide on Javier Garrido.
Shaun-Wright Phillips and Robinho began to link behind the away side's front two to lend the encounter a little more finesse, but the Tigers remained staunch in defence.
And it was Hull, on the counter, which created the next opportunity, Cousin glancing wide from a Ricketts cross.
After 37 minutes, Zayatte produced the second horrific defensive error of the match.
Robinho's through ball missed every blue shirt and was collected with ease by Zayatte who played the ball back across his own goal and into the path of Ireland, who tapped into an open net.
The midfielder had his second before the half was out, taking Garrido's square ball on his instep before curling his shot expertly beyond Myhill.
It took just two minutes of the second period for Geovanni to get the home supporters on their feet, firing over with a thrilling bicycle kick after latching on to King's drifted cross.
The match started to settle into something of a pattern, with Hull lofting the ball high towards its opponent's box and the Eastlands side content to clear back into Tigers territory.
Geovanni, typically, was the man to change things.
With an hour gone, he lined up a free-kick 25 yards from goal and directly in front of the posts.
His shot took a heavy deflection off Vincent Kompany