SOCCER NOTEBOOK: GALAXY'S RUIZ OUT FOR GUATEMALA.

Byline: Billy Witz

Staff Writer

Recently acquired Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz will miss Guatemala's exhibition match next week against Argentina at the Coliseum due to the lingering effects of off-season knee surgery.

Ruiz underwent arthroscopic surgery in November to remove torn cartilage, and Galaxy team doctor, Dr. Bert Mandelbaum, determined after examining Ruiz on Friday that he was not ready to play. The Galaxy did not release Ruiz for Guatemala's training camp, which began Monday.

Ruiz said at a news conference last week that he looked forward to playing Wednesday against Argentina, which is fielding mostly its under-23 Olympic squad along with Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano and Boca Juniors midfielder Juan Riquelme.

"It's a big game for us," Ruiz said. "Everybody's talking about this game in Guatemala. Everybody's excited about this game."

Ruiz is not expected to be training with the Galaxy when its preseason camp begins Monday, a team spokesperson said.

Ruiz should be able to return to practice in time to accompany the team to Hawaii for a mid-February tournament and to Seoul and Shanghai for a pair of exhibitions in March.

Chivas gets goalie coach

Chivas USA hired Leo Percovich as its goalkeeper coach, replacing Zak Abdel, who recently left to accept the same position with the national team. Percovich had spent the past 1 1/2 seasons with Colorado.

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