Former Chelsea striker Demba Ba broke his leg in a freak accident in the Shanghai Derby between his club, Shanghai Shenhua, and Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League.
According to the Daily Mail, Demba Ba went into a tackle with the opposing team’s captain, Sun Xiang, in the 64th minute. Ba’s cleats stuck in the grass as he started to pivot and twist his body into the tackle. Xiang cleanly moved in towards Ba, but stumbled and went to ground. Xiang fell onto Ba’s twisted and extended lower leg. The tangle looked clumsy but harmless until Ba was on the ground with his leg at a displaced angle.
(Personal note: Your correspondent is an athletics coach for whom sports injuries hit close to home. As such, he does not as a matter of policy share images or video of injuries.)
Demba Ba played for two seasons at Chelsea FC, from 2012-2014. Displaced from the lineup by the arrival of Diego Costa, Ba transferred to Turkey’s Besiktas before signing a three-year deal with Shanghai Shenhua of the Chinese Super League.
must read: Demba Ba's top 7 goals for Chelsea FC
Demba Ba scored 14 goals in 51 appearances for Chelsea. The quintessential Ba goal came at the end of a run through or around the opposing backline into the six-yard box. As Ba slid towards the net, a strong foot would extend out and flip the ball past or over the goalkeeper.
A true poaching striker, Ba scored one of Chelsea’s most famous goals in recent years: the Steven Gerrard “don’t let it slip away” goal. Ba’s quick reaction and acceleration allowed him to get his first touch a split second after Gerrard landed on all fours. Fifty yards of Anfield turf later, Ba scored what would be his last goal as a Blue.
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Ba leads the Chinese Super League with 14 goals in 18 games for the fifth-place Shanghai Shenhua. The injury is surely season-ending, but the full time-table for recovery and return to play will only emerge in the coming days.