Ex-MLSer Ruiz Receives Rude Welcome In Mexico

Carlos Ruiz's introduction to Mexican football left an impression on the former MLS star.

That impression, however, might knock him out of next week's match.

Ruiz scored a goal for Puebla in their 1-1 tie against Tigres but the match also left him with a broken nose and dislocated finger, and team doctors are unsure if he will be able to play against Estudiantes Tecos on the weekend.

During Saturday's game against Tigres, Ruiz had his hand stepped and also took a header to his face from Tigres' Jesus Molina. Ruiz took the shot to his face before halftime but kept on playing. He came out at the start of the second half with bandages to his face.

In the 54th minute, Ruiz scored his first-ever Mexican league goal when he converted a penalty kick. Tigers scored later in the half and the match finished 1-1.

After the game, Ruiz's nose bled openly and he was taken to an area hospital for x-rays taken to determine the severity of the hit.

"We saw that he multiple fractures within his nose," Puebla team doctor Gerardo Toledo told reporters.

Toledo reset Ruiz's nose without having to perform a surgery, he said. Ruiz's finger, meanwhile, is dislocated but neither the nose nor the finger immediately ruled Ruiz out of possibilities for playing on Sunday.

"On Wednesday, with the help of a specialist, it will be determined if it would be convenient or not for him to play on Sunday," Toledo said. "He has all the desire and disposition to play and he himself has said that he should not miss the game."

Ruiz played in MLS with the LA Galaxy on two different occasions as well as FC Dallas and Toronto FC and played for Paraguayan side Olimpia before joining Puebla ahead of the Apertura 2009 season.

Goal.com

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