Plaza's groin injury looks serious, MRI tests to be done in Kolkata

EAST BENGAL STRIKER Willis Plaza sustained a groin injury during his club's away fixture against Aizawl FC and initial reports have club officials worried.

The Trinidad and Tobago international went down injured during the game that turned out to be the Red and Golds' first defeat of the season, throwing their title rush into troubled waters. But the injury that Plaza, who has scored 6 goals for the club in the league so far, sustained is not a new one; but something that has been lingering for a while, from before the all-important first Kolkata Derby of the season.

Plaza's face had an expression of painful familiarity when he picked up the injury. He did not move his lower body at all, waited for the stretcher to come pick him up, and signalled for an immediate replacement. Applying ice pack wasn't much help as the striker had to be assisted out of the stadium.

Club sources have not commented on whether or not the player is facing a long time off the field. According to an official, further information can only be gained once the team returns to Kolkata and Plaza goes through an MRI scan. 

But the initial impression is not a good one. Going by the grapevine, Plaza will at least miss out on the Red and Gold's next match. And that's a pretty crucial game to miss out on: East Bengal are to face defending champions Bengaluru FC away from home on Saturday.

While East Bengal remain at the top of the table with 21 points from 9 matches, they are winless in the last 3 games and cannot afford to drop more points. If Plaza indeed misses out on the next few games of the campaign, it will leave the club at a significant disadvantage in the middle of an increasingly difficult title charge.