Jô blow for CSKA title hopes
Friday, October 13, 2006
Article summary
"It's so annoying," said the PFC CSKA Moskva coach Valeri Gazzaev after learning his 19-year-old leading scorer Jô would miss the rest of the Russian season.
Article body
The PFC CSKA Moskva striker Jô will miss the conclusion of the Russian Premier-Liga season and potentially the remaining four rounds of the UEFA Champions League group stage due to the recurrence of a knee injury.
Leading scorer
The 19-year-old Brazilian damaged cartilage in his left knee in the summer and returned a month later after surgery to feature in the UEFA Champions League defeat of Hamburger SV and the 2-2 draw against FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast. Jô leads the Premier-Liga scoring charts with 14 goals, but a likely absence of six weeks will sideline him for CSKA's last eight matches as they look to overturn FC Lokomotiv Moskva's one-point lead.
'Annoying'
"It's so annoying to lose Jô on the eve of such important games in Russia and in Europe," said coach Valeri Gazzaev, whose side lie second in Group G on four points ahead of Tuesday's Matchday 3 visit of the leaders Arsenal FC.