Daegu's Edgar sidelined after Achilles tendon injury

Edgar Bruno da Silva of Daegu FC [YONHAP]

Daegu FC striker Edgar Bruno da Silva is expected to miss a good chunk of the fledgling K League season after rupturing his Achilles tendon during Tuesday's AFC Champions League qualifying playoff against Thai club Buriram United at DGB Daegu Bank Park in Daegu.

Edgar started Tuesday's match and was injured in the 67th minute, with Park Byung-hyun taking over after he was substituted off. According to Daegu officials, Edgar was diagnosed with a ruptured left Achilles tendon after an examination on Wednesday.

Tuesday's match was a surprisingly difficult one for Daegu, with the club coming perilously close to losing their spot at the Champions League as Buriram managed to draw first blood after 119 minutes of scoreless football.

Having played through full time and the vast majority of extra time without a goal, Buriram's Jonathan Bolingi put the Thai side ahead one minute before the end of the game, only for Daegu's Cesinha to manage to tie the score in injury time. With the score tied at 1-1 after extra time, the game went to a penalty shootout. Daegu won the shootout 3-2 to earn their spot in the Champions League.

This is not the first time that Edgar has struggled with this particular injury, as he also had surgery at the end of 2020 due to an injury to his Achilles tendon.

Edgar is Daegu’s star forward, scoring 35 goals and picking up 15 assists in 95 K League appearances since he joined the club in 2018. He was also selected as the MVP in the fifth week of the K League this season.

Daegu FC currently sits at sixth place in the K League with two wins, one draw and two losses. Daegu will next face Suwon FC on Sunday.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]