FC Dallas striker Carlos Ruiz will miss at least the next fortnight after suffering a strained right hamstring Saturday against Real Salt Lake.
Team doctors diagnosed the hamstring strain Monday and have ruled Ruiz out for 2-3 weeks. Ruiz limped off the field late in the Hoops' 2-1 victory at Pizza Hut Park; he was replaced by Aaron Pitchkolan in the 75th minute.
While Ruiz has yet to put home a goal of his own in 2006, the Guatemalan international has twice played provider, supplying an assist to Arturo Alvarez in the Hoops' season opening win against Chicago and another to Kenny Cooper against RSL. And while he didn't get an assist on the play, it was Ruiz's shot that forced RSL defender Carey Talley into an attempted clearance from the goalmouth near the hour mark Saturday. Mark Wilson blocked the clearance into the net for FCD's game-winner.
A year ago, Ruiz missed 13 games through injury and national team duty but still scored 11 goals. In preseason interviews this year, the 2002 MLS MVP said he hopes to score at least 20 this season.
FCD defender Alex Yi suffered a similar Sunday in the Hoops' MLS Reserve Division loss to RSL. He is also expected to miss 2-3 weeks.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
