Eurosport - Mon, 22 Sep 09:09:00 2008
Robinho scored a goal and created two more as Manchester City thrashed Portsmouth 6-0 in the Premier League at Eastlands.
The Premier League's record signing provided a masterclass in creative, incisive attacking play, and Pompey had no answer to his speed of mind and body.
The Brazilian supplied an inch-perfect pass for Jo to open the scoring on 13 minutes before Richard Dunne added a second shortly afterwards.
Robinho then scored with a cool finish on 57 minutes, Shaun Wright-Phillips added a fourth, substitute Ched Evans made it five finishing off a remarkable goal, and Gelson Fernandes completed the rout.
Despite the mammoth £32.5 million fee paid to bring Robinho to Eastlands, some doubted whether the quicksilver forward could really succeed in the fast, physical Premier League.
The early signs suggest Robinho's impact will be spectacular.
Last weekend against Chelsea he scored a free-kick and dictated play for City, but a wonky radar meant he surrendered possession as often as he found a team-mate.
This time he added precision to his dizzying array of skills, spraying visionary passes and beating defenders with almost embarrassing ease.
As early as the third minute, he had David James at full stretch with a pinpoint shot, but shortly afterwards he turned provider, laying on a superb diagonal through ball for Jo, who rounded James and finished left-footed.
The pair combined with intuitive brilliance, allowing Jo to start showing why City paid £18m for his services.
City soon extended their lead following a 20th-minute Elano corner. James patted the ball weakly away and captain Dunne pounced to bundle the ball home.
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp quickly brought Papa Bouba Diop and John Utaka off the bench but, if anything, they made things worse.
Robinho himself made it three just before the hour. Stephen Ireland drilled a diagonal ball that Jo brought down and laid off to the former Real Madrid man, who slotted home from the edge of the box.
Cue a samba dancing celebration in which Ireland attempted, unsuccessfully, to match the moves of Brazilian trio Robinho, Jo and Elano.
Robinho has now scored in both Premier League games and, even more importantly, created a buzz of dizzying excitement around the blue half of Manchester.
As with City legend Georgi Kinkladze, every time Robinho gets on the ball there is a very real possibility of something extraordinary happening.
Portsmouth were in tatters, and Wright-Phillips took full advantage, running onto another excellent Ireland through-ball and smashing past James at his near post.
More humiliation was to come after 78 minutes. Robinho bamboozled his man on the left side before crossing low for Wright-Phillips. He backheeled brilliantly into the path of Evans whose finish was low and true. Sensational.
Another James howler allowed Gelson to score the final goal. The keeper failed to deal with a low Javier Garrido cross and cleared only to the edge of the box, where Gelson reacted quickest to finish off a devastating performance.
City's new owners have made much of their ambition to qualify for the Champions League this season. After this demolition job, a top-four finish does not seem so far-fetched.
Comment 128 - 147 of 147
You beat portsmouth 6-0 but lost to chelsea 3-1 it goes to show one man does not make a team. and by the pompey is @#$% there is no way round that. goalie is @#$%, deffence is @#$%, middfield is @#$%, and their strikers are has been or never was. till you beat the top 4 thats when you could say yes we can win the prem.
GUNNER FOR LIFE
WHOM AM I?? its not an important thing dude .... oh my god, city fan is always dreamin ...
Who's Kickd24? Is he "the legend in his own lunchtime" craigstubbs24? I wonder! Another bitter red no doubt!
who is kickd24 too. he doesn't know anything about football, and he can make a comment whatever he likes. so i think there mustn't allow to write a comment without knowledge of football. Robinho is very popular and talented player. Congratulations to Man. City
who's robinho?? never heard about it ..... so pathetic ..
City are w ank... even Noel said so
Yeahhhh Kickd who do you support the rags i bet and i bet your from london who care what you think because we've got Robinho we've got Robinho
alrite guys come on it was portsmouth city beat and the season is only 5 games old long way to go yet!!!!!! man utd fan
yeah .. maybe city will win champions league next year ....
yeahhh ... keep on dreamin ..
re-kickd24, money cant buy everything, get real, rather have it than have not. lol
Who care's what other fans think opinion are like arseholes everyones got one. Why are united fans commenting on this anyway i would not waste my time reading report on the scum so why do they think we care what they think. I do think we should buy Ronaldo thought as Moonchester needs a new girlfriend and i think he will make a good Mascot. Great time ahead for the only team in Manchester maybe not this season but soon
KEEP ON DREAMIN .... MONEY CANT BUY EVERYTHING ..
great result city as for the people who say robinho wont be there long thats @#$%, we just pay him more, cos we have trillions of money ha ha, bring on utd. lol
All you lot who have ridiculed and dismissed City's demolition of Pompey need to be less bitter! Apart from Chelsea (who will be champs this year), none of the supposable "big 4" have managed to do such a job on Pompey, who are a strong side. By the way Jay & Fire (ref No 62) who did Liverpool manage to get a point off at home on Sat? Oh yeah, Stoke City of course! Big 4 my a@#e! Liverpool's record against the other "big 3" is rubbish! We coming for your place in Champs League sooner rather than later!
this is gud news for man-city, very big pity for pompey.man-u should get ready cos its gonna be mad on thier date with man-city
Hold on to your seats blues fans this is going to be one heck of a ride!!! Best i've seen since 68. City fan of 52 years!! God bless me DAD for taking me as a six year old LOL. Come on you BLUES!!!!
POOR PORTSMOUTH ... THAT DOESN'T MEAN MAN CITY GONNA BE CHAMPIONS???
I said it that MAN.City will be Club to watch out this season, quote me, moses
go city. we love you.
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