Chelsea Show Robinho and City There's No Room at the Top

On Saturday, Chelsea defeated Manchester City 3-1, spoiling Robinho's Premier League debut. Robinho, who was linked with Chelsea the entire summer, opted to sign with City for a record fee of $65 million, scored just 13 minutes into his EPL career from a free kick. His goal sent the City of Manchester Stadium crowd into a state of euphoria, as 'keeper Petr Cech and skipper John Terry pointed fingers in a heated exchange.  

The lead would not last long, however, as Chelsea equalized three minutes later off a corner kick. The cross would come off Terry onto Joe Cole, and end up in front of Ricardo Carvalho who fired past Joe Hart, stunning the home crowd.

Robinho and Deco would then exchange shirts as they headed for the tunnel with the score 1-1.

City would have chances of their own but none would trouble Cech as the Blues pushed for the lead. In the 53rd minute that lead would come, as Frank Lampard notched his second goal of the 2008-09 campaign due to a lovely left footed strike past Hart into the far corner.

Nicolas Anelka would slide in a third goal in the 69th minute to seal the victory for the West Londoners.

The game would have a touch of controversy, when in the 77th minute Terry hauled down Jo (who too was making his home debut), earning the Englishman a straight red card from Mark Halsey. The booking means Terry will be out for next week’s fixture against Manchester United.

The "Clash of the Cash" went to the more experienced side, Chelsea, despite claims from new City owners Abu Dhabi United Group that they were already challenging for a spot in  the top four. If this match was any indication of the future for City, one can assume it will be a long road if they want to taste top European flight competition.

The match marked the return of Didier Drogba, who has not seen any match time since the Champions League final in Moscow. His return couldn’t come any sooner as he has had success against United in the past.

Chelsea are now back at the top of the Premier League tied with ten points with Liverpool, while City stay in fifth.