Jo scored his first goal for City since September 2008
By Saj Chowdhury
David Silva scored his first goal for Manchester City to help them to victory over Red Bull Salzburg in their opening Europa League group match.
The Spanish World Cup winner sidefooted in the opener from eight yards following striker Jo's lay-off.
City doubled their lead after the break when Jo followed up Gerhard Tremmel's save from Carlos Tevez's 20-yarder.
Salzburg created few clear-cut chances, with their best falling to Ibrahim Sekagya, whose shot struck the bar.
But although City keeper Joe Hart was left to enjoy the Salzburg skyline for much of the match, the Austrian side, who won all their group games last season, looked far more threatening than City's previous opponents Timosoara.
During that match City were profligate in front of goal and Roberto Mancini's men were similarly wasteful with possession against the Austrian champions.
Maybe the early strike from Silva prompted City to ease their foot off the gas, thereby allowing their opponents to come into the game during the final 15 minutes of the first half.
In that period, the hosts twice went close to equalising, first when captain Sekagya's scuffed shot from 20 yards bounced over the head of Hart and on to the crossbar and then when Joaquin Boghossian failed to make contact with a delicious ball across the six-yard area.
City could have also added to their tally before the break, with Silva forced a save from Tremmel after the Spaniard mistakenly checked inside instead of hitting a first-timer.
They did eventually add a second when the hard-working Jo was on hand to tap in after the Salzburg keeper found Tevez's shot too hot to handle.
It was the striker's first City goal since September 2008 and only his fourth in total for the club.
Jo was denied a second by a well-timed challenge from Sekagya and then fluffed his lines from four yards before Tevez fired wide from 10 yards late on as City looked to make the scoreline more handsome.
But two goals proved to be enough although they may have to brush up on their target practice before they face their next opponents Juventus.
Man City boss Roberto Mancini: "Silva is a fantastic player - for him it is a different situation now.
"He is playing a different kind of football. But after one month, he is ready to go 100% for the team.
"He will be an important player for the future. He is a strong player who played for Valencia in the Champions League for many years."
Salzburg coach Huub Stevens: "We did not start very well, and if you are not on top of your game in the first 10 minutes against a team such as Manchester City, it is always going to be a struggle.
"We gave City too much space, and they had too much room to get at our defence."
90:00+1:14 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jakob Jantscher from the right by-line, Headed effort from inside the area by Ibrahim Sekagya misses to the left of the target.
90:00+0:22 Booking Roman Wallner is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
90:00+0:12 Free kick awarded for a foul by Roman Wallner on Patrick Vieira. Indirect free kick taken by Joe Hart.
90:00 The referee brings the game to a close.
89:41 Foul by Roman Wallner on Patrick Vieira, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Kolo Toure.
87:57 Unfair challenge on Roman Wallner by Pablo Zabaleta results in a free kick. The ball is sent over by Jakob Jantscher, Franz Schiemer takes a shot. Joe Hart manages to make a clearance.
86:03 Outswinging corner taken by Jakob Jantscher.
85:29 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jakob Jantscher from the right by-line to the near post, Joao Alves Jo manages to make a clearance.
83:52 Free kick awarded for a foul by Gareth Barry on Franz Schiemer. Rabiu Afolabi takes the free kick.
82:37 Shaun Wright-Phillips takes a short corner.
82:37 Substitution David Silva goes off and Shaun Wright-Phillips comes on.
82:37 Joao Alves Jo takes a shot. Blocked by Rabiu Afolabi.
78:14 Joe Hart takes the indirect free kick.
78:14 Substitution Patrick Vieira on for Carlos Tevez.
78:14 Roman Wallner challenges Vincent Kompany unfairly and gives away a free kick.
75:23 Effort from inside the area by Carlos Tevez misses to the left of the target.
73:59 Substitution Thomas Augustinussen replaces David Mendes Da Silva.
73:11 Corner from left by-line taken by David Silva.
72:07 David Mendes Da Silva has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.
71:24 Inswinging corner taken by Jakob Jantscher from the right by-line, Vincent Kompany makes a clearance.
67:08 Short corner worked by David Silva.
67:08 Substitution (Man City) makes a substitution, with Dedryk Boyata coming on for Wayne Bridge.
65:55 David Silva concedes a free kick for a foul on Rabiu Afolabi. Free kick taken by Christian Schwegler.
63:48 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Christoph Leitgeb.
62:22 GOAL - Joao Alves Jo:Red Bull Salzburg 0 - 2 Man City Joao Alves Jo finds the net with a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. SV Red Bull Salzburg 0-2 Man City.
61:57 Christoph Leitgeb gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Wayne Bridge. Free kick taken by Wayne Bridge.
59:25 Jakob Jantscher delivers the ball.
55:55 Foul by Joao Alves Jo on Ibrahim Sekagya, free kick awarded. Rabiu Afolabi restarts play with the free kick.
53:28 Substitution Jakob Jantscher comes on in place of Nikola Pokrivac.
53:28 Substitution (SV Red Bull Salzburg) makes a substitution, with Roman Wallner coming on for Joaquin Boghossian.
53:28 Shot from just outside the area by Carlos Tevez misses to the left of the target.
51:52 Nigel De Jong gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ibrahim Sekagya. Direct free kick taken by Franz Schiemer.
50:04 Inswinging corner taken by David Silva, Rabiu Afolabi manages to make a clearance.
47:04 Free kick taken by Nikola Pokrivac. Shot from just outside the box by Nikola Pokrivac misses to the right of the goal.
47:04 Booking Kolo Toure receives a yellow card.
46:45 Foul by Kolo Toure on Eulogio Zarate, free kick awarded.
45:01 The second half begins.
Half Time
45:00 The referee calls an end to the first half.
43:26 Shot by David Mendes Da Silva from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.
42:09 Joao Alves Jo takes a shot. Save by Gerhard Tremmel.
41:03 The ball is crossed by Nikola Pokrivac.
40:15 David Silva delivers the ball, Dusan Svento manages to make a clearance.
39:24 David Silva takes a shot. Save by Gerhard Tremmel. Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Wayne Bridge, clearance by Christian Schwegler.
39:03 Carlos Tevez takes a shot. Gerhard Tremmel makes a save.
36:55 Pablo Zabaleta produces a cross, Gerhard Tremmel makes a save.
35:59 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Eulogio Zarate.
35:49 The ball is sent over by Christoph Leitgeb, clearance made by Kolo Toure.
33:24 Carlos Tevez takes a shot. Blocked by Ibrahim Sekagya. Corner taken left-footed by David Silva from the left by-line, clearance by Christian Schwegler.
32:49 Nikola Pokrivac gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Pablo Zabaleta. Free kick taken by Gnegneri Toure Yaya.
29:58 Dusan Svento takes a shot. Kolo Toure gets a block in. Christoph Leitgeb takes the inswinging corner, Ibrahim Sekagya takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.
27:25 The ball is swung over by Christian Schwegler.
26:08 Eulogio Zarate takes a shot. Vincent Kompany gets a block in. Corner taken right-footed by Christoph Leitgeb, Joao Alves Jo manages to make a clearance. Corner from the left by-line taken by Christoph Leitgeb, clearance by Kolo Toure.
25:34 Joao Alves Jo is ruled offside. Gerhard Tremmel restarts play with the free kick.
18:01 Eulogio Zarate challenges Wayne Bridge unfairly and gives away a free kick. Vincent Kompany restarts play with the free kick.
17:16 Carlos Tevez takes a shot. Save by Gerhard Tremmel.
16:24 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joao Alves Jo by Nikola Pokrivac. Gnegneri Toure Yaya restarts play with the free kick.
12:15 Corner taken by Nikola Pokrivac from the right by-line. Foul by Carlos Tevez on Nikola Pokrivac, free kick awarded. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Christoph Leitgeb from left wing, clearance made by Vincent Kompany.
10:43 Unfair challenge on Gnegneri Toure Yaya by Christoph Leitgeb results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Nigel De Jong.
7:24 The assist for the goal came from Joao Alves Jo.
7:24 GOAL - David Silva:Red Bull Salzburg 0 - 1 Man City A goal is scored by David Silva from deep inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. SV Red Bull Salzburg 0-1 Man City.
5:02 Joao Alves Jo fouled by Franz Schiemer, the ref awards a free kick. Gnegneri Toure Yaya restarts play with the free kick.
1:59 Inswinging corner taken by David Silva from the right by-line, Ibrahim Sekagya manages to make a clearance.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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