FRISCO, TX - FC Dallas announced today that forward Carlos Ruiz will be out for the next 2-3 weeks after being diagnosed with a right hamstring strain by team doctors. The 26-year-old was replaced by Aaron Pitchkolan in the 75th minute of the Hoops' 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake on Saturday, April 8, after limping off the field two minutes earlier.
Ruiz, who has 61 career goals in 93 games played in MLS, has been a key piece in a Dallas attack that has come from behind to win in each of its first two games this season. In a 3-2 season opening victory over the Chicago Fire on April 1, Ruiz set up Arturo Alvarez for the Hoops' first goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1 in the 31st minute.
"El Pescadito" was also involved in both goals during his team's 2-1 win over RSL over the weekend. In the 43rd minute, Ruiz played a back-heel pass beyond the reach of Salt Lake defender Eddie Pope and into the path of Kenny Cooper who slotted his shot home for his second goal of the year, tying the game at 1-1. Then, just before the hour mark, Ruiz's left-footed volley beat the RSL 'keeper, only to be cleared off the line by Carey Talley. However, the Real defender's clearance was blocked and redirected into the goal by FC Dallas midfielder Mark Wilson for the first goal of his MLS career, giving the Hoops a 2-1 edge and their second consecutive win at Pizza Hut Park to open the 2006 campaign.
On Sunday, FC Dallas defender Alex Yi suffered a similar injury in the FC Dallas Reserves 1-0 loss to the Real Salt Lake Reserves. He is also expected to miss the next 2-3 weeks because of the ailment.
FC Dallas returns to action on Saturday, April 15 when it heads to Denver, Colo. to face the Colorado Rapids in the team's first road game of the season at 8 p.m. (CT) - live on KTXA Channel 21 in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex or nationally on the MLS DirectKick package.
