For the most part, FC Dallas' 4-0 loss at Toronto FC on Sunday was one to classify as forgettable for the Hoops. But one positive out of the game was that Hoops captain and striker Carlos Ruiz saw his first action for his club in nearly a month as the Guatemalan international came on as a substitute at the halftime break.
Ruiz last played for FCD in a 2-1 win against Real Salt Lake on May 20 at Pizza Hut Park. In that match, he received his fifth yellow card of the season and was slated to miss FCD's match at Chivas USA the following Saturday. He then left to join Guatemala several days later as they prepared for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
On Saturday, Guatemala fell 3-0 to Canada in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. and not soon after the match was over, Ruiz began thinking about how he could join FCD in Toronto the following day.
"It was very painful to lose to Canada, but I wanted to be with my team," Ruiz said. "Toronto isn't far from Boston, so I talked to Steve (Morrow) and said I wanted to be with the team and that it was up to him if he wanted to use me or not. I told him that I wanted to be with the team and get focused on playing with them again."
So, Ruiz hopped a flight leaving Boston at 8 a.m. ET on Sunday and arrived in Toronto about two hours later. He took a cab to the team hotel and arrived just in time to make the team bus, which was leaving at 11:30 a.m.
Morrow was clearly ecstatic to get his captain back into the fold so soon.
"It was good to get him back. He called us and wanted to join the team after they got knocked out on Saturday afternoon. We welcomed him back in. We've missed him and our light up top as well," Morrow said. "We're glad to have him back in for this week because that gives us more options up front. He worked hard while he was gone and had three tough games. He's in good shape."
Ruiz's return comes as the FCD forward ranks are down to just two true forwards. Besides Ruiz, the only other true strikers on the Hoops roster are Dominic Oduro, who scored the game-winner last Thursday at RSL and Abe Thompson, who has two goals and three assists in seven starts this year.
Midfielder Arturo Alvarez has also moved forward and made three starts up top for FCD so far this season. Still out of action is Ecuadorian forward Roberto Mina, who has now missed nearly a year with a knee injury. A decision is pending on whether or not Mina will be placed on injured reserve for the rest of the season.
On Monday, 19-year-old Brazilian forward Richardinho, who plays for FCD's Brazilian partner Clube Atletico Paranaense, arrived in Frisco on a tourist visa. He and the team have agreed in principle but he cannot be officially added to the Hoops roster until he gets his work visa.
Team officials have already submitted the necessary paperwork for and should take about 10 business days for the league office to process. He will likely take Mina's spot on the roster.
Even though Alvarez, Oduro and Thompson have played well in Ruiz's absence, the FCD captain knows he will be expected to start scoring goals almost immediately.
"I understand that," Ruiz said. "I have only scored two goals this season and have to start scoring them again. We have a lot of games in the next couple of weeks, so I have a responsibility to score goals and to help my team create opportunities and try to make them."
Morrow feels that Ruiz's solid performances in the Gold Cup should give him momentum as he returns to MLS.
"I watched his games and think with the way they (Guatemala) play (in a 4-5-1), it's tough for him as the lone guy up top. I don't think he particularly enjoyed that way of play and didn't get a great deal of support," Morrow said. "For the role that he had to play, I thought he did a good job and worked very hard. He had limited opportunities and took one of them well. Hopefully that will benefit us in the long run."
Ruiz admitted that he was a bit tired after playing 135 minutes in two days but is ready to roll for FCD.
"I felt tired (on Sunday) but think I have prepared well in the preseason and don't feel like this is too much work for me," he said. "It (playing the day before) would have been a good excuse but I wanted to be there with my team in case they needed me."
Earlier this season, Ruiz was hampered by a strained hamstring. But that now looks to be a thing of the past thanks to some help by the FCD training staff.
"It's better now," Ruiz said. "I worked with (head trainer) Josh (Watts) and he helped me a lot with different exercises and I feel great now. After every practice, I try to do something for my hamstring."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
