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Brazilian Jo netted twice as Manchester City came from behind to beat a spirited Omonia Nicosia 2-1 in an entertaining UEFA Cup first round clash in Cyprus.

City dominated possession but Mark Hughes's multi-million pound side made difficult work of their more modest opponents, displaying an alarming profligacy in front of goal throughout the match.

Jo was as guilty as anyone in the City line-up, but the summer signing eventually found the target to cancel out Klodian Duro's stunning 49th minute free-kick with a close range tap-in on 59 minutes.

He added his second and what proved to be the winner with a fine strike in the 72nd minute, sparing any blushes and putting City firmly in the driving seat for the return leg in a fortnight's time at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Jo was not alone in wasting chances - fellow expensive import Robinho had also left his shooting boots in Manchester - and the Brazilian pair conspired to waste the best two chances of a goalless first half.

Soon after kick-off at a raucous Neo GSP Stadium, Robinho was denied his second City goal in as many games when Nicosia keeper Antonis Georgallides got a big hand to the £32.5 million summer signing's sidefooted close range effort.

And then just before the half-hour mark, £18m man Jo somehow conspired to completely miss his kick after tenacious work from Stephen Ireland on the right, the midfielder winning possession before playing the ball across the face of goal. All it needed was a touch, but Jo could not provide one.

In between those two chances, Shaun Wright-Phillips launched a super strike which Georgallides again managed to divert round the corner, but City came closest to breaking the deadlock just before the half-time whistle.

Again the Brazilian pair were involved, Robinho finding Jo with a cute ball through, only for the former CSKA Moscow hitman to be foiled by the upright, despite this time making a sweet connection with the ball. Robinho blasted the rebound over the bar.

There was still time for Ireland to hit the outside of the post before the opening period was up and City were made to pay for their profligacy soon after the restart as the hosts took a surprise lead through Duro's excellent free-kick.

Vincent Kompany was pulled up for a poor challenge on the Albanian, right on the edge of the City penalty area, and Duro dusted himself off to fire the resulting free kick into the top left hand corner, with Joe Hart nowhere to be seen.

Despite the set-back, City continued to press forward, although their finishing did not immediately get any better.

Ireland again went close when played through on goal - his low effort was repelled by the legs of the busy Giorgallides - and Jo hammered a shot against the crossbar before he finally found the back of the net, tapping home from close range after Wright-Phillips had robbed Elias Charalambous of the ball near the bye-line.

Nicosia responded straight away, the lively Demetris Christofi wriggling his way past two City defenders before crossing for Ioannis Okkas, but the striker could only fire wide of the mark.

It was to prove a decisive miss as Jo bagged his second ten minutes later, controlling a deep Javier Garrido cross on his thigh before firing back across the face of the keeper and into the far corner.

Nicosia did their best to grab another as time ran out, and very nearly did when Duro's wickedly swerving strike from 30 yards beat Hart all ends up, only to cannon back off the crossbar.

Former Porto player Clayton came on as time ran out and the substitution almost paid off, but Hart came to the rescue with an outstretched boot to leave City in pole position to claim a place in the group stage of the competition.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport