Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Eidur Gudjohnsen of Chelsea, in the dark jersey, heads the ball past Vincent Candela of AS Roma. Click photo for larger image. Related story Soccer fans get a taste of real thing

It quickly became obvious how this match would go -- money over glamour.

Chelsea of the English Premier League was dominant from the start last night in a 3-0 win against AS Roma of the Italian Serie A League at Heinz Field.

The game was part of the ChampionsWorld Series, a North America tour of European pro teams. It was the first game of top-caliber soccer in Pittsburgh and the first soccer game at the Steelers' 3-year-old stadium.

Self-made Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea July 1, 2003, and has spent an estimated $385 million to acquire new players. That's just in transfer fees for players' rights, not the salaries of the new or holdover players.

It took until around the 25th minute for the line of bumper-to-bumper cars around the stadium to disappear and everyone in the crowd of 25,317 to reach their seats. By that time, Chelsea had taken a 1-0 lead and established itself as the better team.

In the 11th minute, Joe Cole took a feed from Njitap Geremi at the right edge of the 6-yard box and scored as goalkeeper Carlo Zotti was caught on the other side of the net.

Chelsea had several other chances in the first half, including a point-blank shot by Mateja Kezman that was stopped by Zotti in the 23rd minute.

"It was important for us to start well," said Chelsea defender and captain John Terry. "I can't remember them getting four or five passes together in a row."

	Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Olivier Dacourt, foreground, of AS Roma, grimaces after a hard tackle by Chelsea's Claude Makelele last night at Heinz Field. Click photo for larger image.

Roma, a team of players treated like movie stars starting with celebrity midfielder Francesco Totti, got its best chance of the first half in the 44th minute when Totti lofted a direct kick that sank toward the left corner of the net, where Petr Cech caught it.

Play continued to be concentrated in front of the Roma net in the second half.

In the 63rd minute, forward Arjen Robben caught up with the ball at the end line to the right of Roma's net and fed Kezman, who beat Zotti for a 2-0 Chelsea lead.

Shortly thereafter, fans might have thought a hockey game broke out. Roma's Olivier Dacourt kicked Robben from behind as Robben drove toward the net, and Kezman rushed in to retaliate. After a scuffle involving several players, Dacourt and Kezman were ejected after receiving red cards in the 66th minute.

"I passed him, and he kicked me," Robben said. "It wasn't necessary."

Kezman has been Chelsea's most reliable scorer this preseason, but his loss didn't slow Chelsea.

"We knew exactly what to do when Kezman got sent off," Terry said.

In fact, the incident fired Chelsea up more.

"It's a friendly game, but the two teams want to win," said striker Didier Drogba, who was playing his in first game for Chelsea.

He entered as a substitute at the start of the second half and scored on a short rebound to make it 3-0 after Zotti stopped a shot by midfielder Frank Lampard.

"I hope it's the first of many," Drogba said.

Chelsea has outscored its two tour opponents, 7-2, and Kezman has three of the goals.

"We've come together very well as a team since we've been here," Terry said of the North American tour.

	Keith Srakocic, Associated Press Chelsea's Mateja Kezman puts the clamps on the Francesco Totti's jersey as the AS Roma striker tries to advance the ball during first half action. Click photo for larger image.

While Chelsea's equivalent of an international all-star team based on Abramovich's bankroll has been the buzz of the European soccer community, it doesn't necessarily extend to opposing players. The night before the game, Totti was asked about the improvements.

"Good for them," he said.

Totti was more concerned about the status of his team for the North American tour.

"It's a good thing that they're doing," Totti said. "Unfortunately for us, it's at the beginning of the season and we have a lot of injured players, so that makes it more difficult for us."

Striker Antonio Cassano did not play last night because of a leg injury. Defender Cristian Panucci, the only other national team player on Roma besides Totti, also did not play despite taking part in the Heinz Field practice Wednesday night. No reason was given.

Roma also was without coach Cesare Prandelli, who is back in Italy because of an illness in his family.

Four Chelsea players sat out. Defender Robert Huth got hurt in Chelsea's 4-2 win Saturday against Celtic in Seattle. Midfielder Tiago Mendes, a new acquisition, was deemed not in game shape yet. Forward Adrian Mutu and goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini were healthy scratches.