Ruiz Delivers, Fails All In One Afternoon

Carlos Ruiz had done well to acclimate himself to his new team. In the opening week of the Apertura 2009 season, Ruiz scored Puebla's only goal and helped the team earn a 1-1 draw on the road.

Sunday, Ruiz was up to his old tricks again as he scored two first-half goals - but only one stood as his first was called off due to offside.

In the second half, though, Ruiz had a chance to break Puebla's 1-1 draw with Estudiantes. In the 56th minute, Puebla earned a penalty and Ruiz stepped to the spot.

Instead of finding the back of the net, though, Ruiz's attempt rolled softly towards Estudiantes 'keeper Mario Rodriguez.

Thus, Ruiz experienced the lows of having a goal disallowed, the highs of having scored and ultimately the lows of having cost his team a chance to gain three points.

It's par for the course, Ruiz said after the match.

"If you don't shoot, you don't miss," Ruiz told reporters after Puebla's second consecutive 1-1 draw. "It was my chance to take (the penalty) and I missed it but I have confidence in all of my teammates and the coaching staff so nothing negative will come from this. I hope to have another chance next game and score."

In fact, Ruiz has already shown he can score a penalty for Puebla. His first-ever goal in the Mexican league was from the spot as Ruiz buried a penalty kick against Tigres in the season opener.

But his attempt on Sunday was futile. After Marcelo Alatorre knocked Nicolas Oliveira inside the box, Puebla were awarded a penalty. Ruiz stepped to the spot and fired to Rodriguez's right. Rodriguez dived to his right and easily collected the ball.

"I didn't hit it well, I missed and that's all that happened," Ruiz said. "The team tied but I believe Puebla did more to gain the victory than Estudiantes did, so the result is not a just one."

In the first half, Ruiz scored a goal early on. Just three minutes in, Orlando Rincon broke clear of Estudiantes' defense on the right side of the area and slipped a ball to Ruiz on the far post. Unmarked, Ruiz easily slotted a ball into the back of the net. The goal, though, was ruled offside even though television replays appeared to show Ruiz in an onside position.

After Estudiantes opened the scoring in the 27th minute, Roberto Juarez and Ruiz combined on a goal. Juarez sent a ball over Estudiantes' defense and Ruiz ran in alone on Rodriguez. He easily beat Rodriguez to level terms.

That Ruiz played at all, however, shows some courage. Against Tigres, Ruiz suffered nasal fractures and a dislocated finger. His status was in doubt during the week but Ruiz played Sunday's match with a nose guard to protect his nose from further damage. The injury is not expected to keep him out of any games.

Ultimately, though, Ruiz took part of the blame for the team's failure to win a game that in his opinion should have been won.

"I would like apologize to the fans," Ruiz said. "These are the games we should be winning."

Goal.com

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