In an emotional match, Alianza Lima lost at home 1-0 against River Plate in the first match of both teams in Group F of the group stage of the 2022 Copa Libertadores.
If the "millonario" team could celebrate the victory obtained at the Estadio Nacional, the happiness was not complete, as they lost one of their most valuable players: Robert "El Sicario" Rojas, Paraguayan defender, who at the 88th minute received a brutal kick from Aldair Rodríguez, who was expelled by Colombian referee Wilmar Roldán after this action.
After being taken off the field at the José Díaz stadium, the Argentine team's full-back was taken to a medical center for treatment. The diagnosis was clear: fractured tibia and fibula. Prognosis: serious. After this situation, many fans, not only from River Plate but from football in general, accused the Alianza player of being "savage," and some even accused him of intentionally causing Rojas' injury.
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Marcelo Gallardo, the coach of the Argentine institution, accompanied his player at all times, who also received the support of the entire team. It was a golden night that turned gray. Until the Peruvian player's action, there were many reasons to celebrate the victory in Lima: they dominated the game from start to finish, the substitutions were perfect, and the goal was scored by Matías Suárez, who ironically returned to the field for the first time after six months of inactivity due to an injury.
After the damage done, Aldair Rodríguez approached the hotel where River Plate was staying with the intention of apologizing to the Paraguayan defender for the serious injury he caused. He reiterated to the Argentine team that he never had any bad intentions when making the play and that at the time, he did not realize the seriousness of the situation, as when he realized that something bad was happening on the field, he was already leaving due to the red card imposed against him.
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"I am very sad about the situation that my fellow professional is going through. It was an accidental play, I did not have any bad intentions. It was a dispute for the ball between the two of us, and unfortunately I think his foot got caught and when he forced the ball, he fractured. That's why I came here to apologize personally," said the Alianza Lima forward in an interview with ESPN journalists, who received him upon arrival at River's hotel.
When questioned in depth about the play and his intentions at the time, the Alianza player defended his position and indicated that the situation was very casual, typical of a sport like football, at which time he did not know how to measure the way he approached the one-on-one with "Sicario" Rojas, which resulted in the defender's injury. "He was facing away, but I did not tackle him or raise my foot disproportionately or irresponsibly. Maybe I did go with a little force, and unfortunately this accident happened," Rodríguez said.
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This morning, the medical report from River Plate, spread through the club's social networks, confirmed the type of fracture suffered by Robert Rojas, for which he will be transferred to Buenos Aires to undergo the necessary studies and subsequently undergo surgery. It is also estimated that the player will be out of the field for at least four months, which will undoubtedly be a major setback for the Nuñez team.