Arboleda worries Ecuador: he suffered a shocking injury after a hard fall | VIDEO

Sao Paulo achieved a 1-0 victory over Palmeiras, in a new edition of the Clásico, this time for the first leg of the round of 16 of the Brazilian Cup. Although the result has been important, there was not only good news for the team: Robert Arboleda suffered a spectacular fall and was injured in the final minutes.

It all happened when the clock exceeded 80′ and the tall defender went to fight for the ball with Rafael Navarro. Due to the height of the ball, the Ecuadorian soccer player made a maneuver in the air and cleared with his right leg, but he was not supported on the pitch of the Morumbí Stadium and had a hard descent.

According to the images, Robert Arboleda’s left foot was planted on the field, causing him to bend his ankle and knee. The shocking scene sparked the concern of coach Rogério Ceni and the sane doctor immediately entered to attend to the affected athlete.

The Ecuadorian team had to leave the field on a stretcher in the direction of a nearby hospital, reflecting pain and concern on his face. The first reports indicate that the central defender suffered from a ligament injury, although so far there has been no official statement.

“We are with you, brother! Arboleda will undergo tests and then we will give more information”, Sao Paulo revealed in a recent statement. From the Ecuadorian team, Conmebol and other sports entities expressed messages of support for Robert, wishing him a speedy recovery.

Arboleda worries for the World Cup

The Ecuadorian team will debut against the local Qatar in the World Cup and the presence of Arboleda generates concern. Depending on the injury, the defender could remain off the pitch for up to five months and, if so, coach Gustavo Alfaro’s planning will change. Under the command of the strategist, Robert played 10 games with the ‘Tri’ in the Qualifiers and was key to ensuring qualification for the World Cup.