Chelsea upstages Man City

MANCHESTER - CHELSEA overcame Robinho's debut goal to beat Manchester City 3-1 on Saturday in a harsh reality check for an Eastlands side still celebrating its newfound wealth.

Ricardo Carvalho took just three minutes to level after Robinho netted a sublime free kick in the 13th minute in his first game since the surprising move from Real Madrid.

Chelsea then took charge and gave City a lesson in finesse, with Frank Lampard slotting home the winner in the 53rd and former City striker Nicolas Anelka putting the result beyond doubt in the 69th.

Chelsea's two-goal cushion didn't look in danger even after captain John Terry's red card for fiercely halting Jo's advance, which rules him out of next Sunday's match against Manchester United.

The defeat soured 12 days of electrifying festivities at Eastlands, dubbed Middle Eastlands since wealthy Gulf investors agreed to a buyout that will make City the richest club in world football.

Some fans at City's stadium Saturday arrived in Arab headgear and flowing white robes to celebrate the takeover funded by the Abu Dhabi royal family. Others came in Brazil jerseys to pay homage to the 24-year-old Robinho, who dramatically switched to City in the final minutes of the transfer window on Sept 1 despite Chelsea pursuing him throughout the off-season.

The stage was set for the record British signing when City won a free kick outside the penalty area in the 12th and he duly delivered, curling the ball to the right of a disbelieving Petr Cech.

Robinho did his trademark celebration of sucking his thumb and bowed to the adoring fans, but City was soon undone by poor defending.

Carvalho's downward header from Frank Lampard's corner hit Joe Cole, but ricocheted back for the Portugal defender to score on his 100th Premier League appearance.

Chelsea never looked like being defeated from that point, with Anelka striking wide and heading over in the next five minutes.

Jo exhibited another piece of Brazilian skill in the 23rd, flicking through to Stephen Ireland, whose weak finish was no challenge for Cech.

Slack defence nearly proved costly again for City in the 29th when Flourent Malouda found himself unmarked with only Joe Hart to beat, but headed onto the crossbar.

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich's side wasn't going to be upstaged by their successors as the world's wealthiest club and stepped up the pressure in the five minutes before the break.

City's lethargic clearing allowed Anelka to send a cross which Malouda headed over, Hart caught a low shot from Anelka, and Ashley Cole whipped in a superb curling effort from 25m that was just off target.

The visitors kept pressing after the break, with Lampard chipping over in the 50th and finding the net within three minutes.

Anelka's goal capped off a move started by Deco, with the ball moving through Malouda and Cole before the Frenchman beat Hart at the near post against his former side.