AFC Cup 2019: Minerva goalkeeper Arshdeep injured after collision with Vineeth

Chennaiyin's Vineeth ran onto a through ball but was stopped in his tracks by an onrushing Arshdeep, who suffered an injury in the process.

Minerva goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh in action in the I-League. (FILE IMAGE)

Minerva Punjab FC goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh suffered a blow to his face after colliding with Chennaiyin FC's C.K. Vineeth in the AFC Cup match at the Indhira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati.

The incident happened during the sixth minute of the Group E match when Vineeth ran onto a through ball but was stopped in his tracks by an onrushing Arshdeep to foil the striker.

Unfortunately for Arshdeep, Vineeth's knee collided with his face in the process and had to receive lengthy treatment before being taken off the field in an ambulance to a hospital. 

Arshdeep was replaced by Bhaskar Roy for the remainder of the match as Minerva searched for its first win of the competition.

Today my 22 year old warrior @arshsaini56 of @minervapunjabfc in @AFCCup against @ChennaiyinFC had 2 be rushed to hospital after a serious collision(5 minutes in)& is in ICU/has multiple fractures in the nose which require surgery-he is bravery personified(rare in GKs these days)

— Ranjit Bajaj (@THE_RanjitBajaj) June 19, 2019

Minerva, however, was held to a 1-1 draw by Chennaiyin because of a late Mohammad Rafi goal. The club from Punjab had initially taken the lead via a Samuel Lalmuanpuia goal in the 62nd minute.

According to Minerva Punjab owner Ranjit Bajaj, Arshdeep was taken to the ICU due to multiple fractures in the nose.

In a tweet after the game, Bajaj said that the 22-year-old shot-stopper will undergo surgery.