Over the last three seasons, FC Dallas has been a regular in the MLS Cup Playoffs. In that time, the Hoops have scored a total of six goals and four have come from current captain Carlos Ruiz. How adept "El Pescadito" is at putting the ball in the net will go a long way in determining if FCD wins their first playoff series since 1999 -- or makes an early exit for the fourth consecutive season.
With 15 games of postseason experience to his credit, Ruiz has averaged a goal per game in his five years in the playoffs. In 2002, he had eight goals in six postseason starts for the Los Angeles and was named MLS Cup MVP as the Galaxy won the league crown. Ruiz is one of three current members of the FCD roster who has won an MLS Cup.
FCD head coach Steve Morrow expects the Guatemalan international to shine yet again in this year's playoffs.
"He's one of those experienced players who has played in the playoffs before and knows what it's all about," Morrow said. "We're certainly going to need as many of those guys as we can get in this playoff. Carlos has a reputation and a history of stepping up in the big occasion and scoring goals. That's what we need from him this time around."
This year, the Hoops were just 0-3-1 against Dynamo and scored a total of one goal in those four matches. Despite their less-than-stellar history against their in-state rivals, Ruiz expects that he and FCD will be ready.
"I think it's going to be a good match and battle against their defense," Ruiz said. "I like these kinds of matches because many players feel pressured and get scared. I want to see who gets scared in this playoff and try to take advantage of that."
On Sept. 30 at Pizza Hut Park, Houston prevailed 3-0 but the most memorable moment of that game came just before the final whistle. Ruiz and Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark became entangled near the Houston goal and Clark kicked Ruiz hard in the shoulder, earning a straight red card and a nine-game suspension.
Ruiz was also sent off for retaliating and after missing one match following his ejection and another for yellow card accumulation, he returned to the field on Saturday in a 2-0 loss to Kansas City in which he played the final 14 minutes. This was just a few days after he played for Guatemala in a 3-2 win against Mexico in Los Angeles.
"I feel good," he said. "The game against Mexico was tough and I felt good in the last 15 minutes against Kansas City."
Clark will not be on the field for the playoff series, but another arch-nemesis of Ruiz's will be in Dynamo center back Eddie Robinson.
"When he was in San Jose (and I was in L.A.), we played them in the playoffs but we never played against each other," Ruiz said. "He fights for 90 minutes and I'm going to show him what kind of soccer I can play. I think I can respond with goals."
Ruiz enjoys battling with the hard-nosed Robinson but admits that their battles are more physical than psychological in nature.
"I don't want to get in his head," he said. "Everything I say is true. He is one of the better defenders in the league and he knows that."
When the Hoops took the field in mid-September for a match against Chicago on MLS Primetime Thursday, Ruiz came out sporting a blonde mohawk. But the veteran striker knows that this is no time for bits like a new dye job.
He was sporting a beard after training on Tuesday but Ruiz was adamant that it was not a playoff beard and that it will be gone by the time the Hoops take the field for the opening leg of the Western Conference Semifinals on Saturday.
One burning question that will be answered this week is who Morrow will pair with Ruiz up top in the FCD attack. The Hoops coach will likely have Dallas native Kenny Cooper accompany "El Pescadito" on the front line while Dominic Oduro and Abe Thompson are also possibilities.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
