A star was born at the San Siro in Milan on Wednesday night, Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune reports in his Champions League roundup. Predictably, you might say, he is another young Brazilian destined for the big time. Simply known as “Jo,” Joao de Assis Silva raised eyebrows at the San Siro when he fired CSKA Moscow into an early lead against Inter Milan. Soon thereafter, compatriot Wagner Love, who’s become a regular with Dunga’s Brazilian national team, scored a second, and suddenly the Italian champion had its back against the wall.
True to form, Inter rallied, emerging the 4-2 victor, but not before Jo left the game with an injury. Indeed, with Jo and Wagner Love on the field, CSKA always looked capable of scoring; the Russians’ attack faded noticeably when the young Brazilian left the game at halftime. Even so, Jo left an indelible impression on the game, the reverberations of which will be felt when the 20-year-old moves on to play for a team like Inter.
Jo’s wonderful goal — an unstoppable left-footed strike following a give and go with Love — was an announcement of his readiness to move on, says Hughes, who points out that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is also the main benefactor of CSKA. Perhaps a move to Stamford Bridge is on the cards for young Jo — especially if Didier Drogba makes good on his threat to leave Chelsea.