KASHIWA, Chiba Pref. (Kyodo) Struggling Kashiwa Reysol have suffered a fresh injury blow as Brazilian striker Franca on Wednesday was ruled out for four weeks with a groin strain.
Franca suffered the injury in Kashiwa's 4-1 defeat to Sanfrecce Hiroshima on April 11 and will be joining Keisuke Ota in the treatment room after the club announced Tuesday the midfielder would also be out for around a month.
Ota damaged ligaments in his right knee and was substituted at halftime in Saturday's 2-1 loss at home to Nagoya Grampus.
Reysol are the only team in the first division yet to win and prop up the table with just four points from six games.