Premier League - Robinho inspires rampant City

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.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League - Robinho leaps as he celebrates with his Manchester City team-mates during the thrashing of Portsmouth - 0

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.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

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  1. blackburnleslie u @#$% hav u bin to manchester cos i live there nd ive been to newcastle nd u have no rite to say anythin about being scum. OBESE!! just look at who owns u a pint guzzling fatass @#$%. A fine gentle men from newcastle u make me chuckle

    From Josh, on Sun 21 Sep 8:03PM

  2. It amazes me that people on here have to have a go about anything so insignificant. Let's face facts, Man City have the manager, players and financial backing to make a huge mark on the premiership. Isn't it about time that we (as football fans) should appreciate the fact that there is now another club that will vye for the BIG TOP FOUR. Lets all hope that this season doesn't boil down to the usual suspects, and with Man City being in the position that they are now in, makes the season ahead very interesting.

    From richardbwfc, on Sun 21 Sep 8:00PM

  3. giskard 65 u r so rite wel sed nd yh pompey beat utd once wen alredy this season we beat u three times, in africa charity shield and the leagu. But wen ur best keeper is injured and sub got sent off beating rio from the spot is a great achievement. For low lifes like you maybe. We didnt hav ronaldo or rooney but kikd ur @#$% home.

    From Josh, on Sun 21 Sep 7:55PM

  4. giskard 65 u r so rite wel sed nd yh pompey beat utd once wen alredy this season we beat u three times, in africa charity shield and the leagu. But wen ur best keeper is injured and sub got sent off beating rio from the spot is a great achievement. For low lifes like you maybe. We didnt hav ronaldo or rooney but kikd ur @#$% home.

    From Josh, on Sun 21 Sep 7:55PM

  5. Giskard- response to number 67.

    Didnt the Pompey beat Man Utd 1-0 in the F.A Cup sixth round on the 8th of March?
    2008????

    Hmm and u think pompey are no problem, im sure the Utd boys havent forgotten!!

    Good luck City, Good Luck Portsmouth you can bounce back

    From sam b, on Sun 21 Sep 7:37PM

  6. dteacher what do you teach let me guess bulls&&t

    From ian l, on Sun 21 Sep 7:26PM

  7. Oh it's so easy to upset people... I love it

    I don't even like football

    Crappy game for whore players.

    I'm gonna leave you all stewing and get back to work...

    Bye

    From Giskard, on Sun 21 Sep 7:23PM

  8. ref No 78
    LOL

    From ian l, on Sun 21 Sep 7:22PM

  9. History, yes I agree with you ***dteacher1uk**** that is what its all about isn't it.

    And Man City have none

    Hahahahahahahhahha

    LOL
    LOL
    LOL

    From Giskard, on Sun 21 Sep 7:21PM

  10. ref No 76
    read No 67 the lads got a point.

    From ian l, on Sun 21 Sep 7:20PM

  11. Giskard - suggest you read up on some of that HISTORY you love spouting off about.

    Manure won nothing for 25 years - oh what short memories.

    From D, on Sun 21 Sep 7:14PM

  12. ref No 74
    ?

    From ian l, on Sun 21 Sep 7:13PM

  13. Ref: Ian L.

    Cyberwarrior extraordinaire.....NOT.

    You sad Muppet.

    From D, on Sun 21 Sep 7:11PM

  14. Hey all Transexual1982 is a Pompey fan.

    Yes I almost forgot...

    Here's Pompeys boast: We are the FA cup holders and we are going to win it again...one day

    LOL

    From Giskard, on Sun 21 Sep 7:07PM

  15. sick to deaf of sick bran ded liverpool and tottnom fans puting man city down grow up.

    From mick.hatton, on Sun 21 Sep 7:05PM

  16. speaking as a fine gentleman of newcastle i tend to think that the toon are richer and more successful than man.c . cheerio, my rotten toothed, obese manc chums.

    From leslie, on Sun 21 Sep 7:05PM

  17. pele and the rest of the critics r probably thinking the same as the rest of us....top 6 maybe.

    From leslie, on Sun 21 Sep 7:00PM

  18. great result, great football, great manager and soon to be a great team. weldone city.. the future is looking bright

    From Darren, on Sun 21 Sep 6:58PM

  19. speaking as a fine gentleman of newcastle i tend to think that all these trillions of pounds stirling man.c now have, i predict unhappiness for the fine football team called man.c , because, money does not make you happy. cheerio my old manc chums, better luck next time!!!!

    From leslie, on Sun 21 Sep 6:57PM

  20. all you city, united, chelsea and arse nil muppets remember pompey are fa cup holders and are gona win it again blue army forever you bunch of 2 bob ####

    From tanya, on Sun 21 Sep 6:56PM
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