“The Little Fish” has been a big headache this month for FC Dallas coach Colin Clarke.
Mercurial striker Carlos “El Pescadito” Ruiz returned to training Tuesday after taking an unannounced hiatus since playing for the Guatemalan national team.
Clarke said Ruiz’s absence has been a distraction, but the matter would be handled internally so the club could move forward as it prepares to open the Major League Soccer playoffs Saturday against the Rapids at 7 p.m. at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Ruiz, who leads the team with 11 goals and two assists, has not played for FC Dallas since Sept. 10. He joined Guatemala early this month for its two World Cup qualifiers and did not return until Tuesday.
With striker Eddie Johnson (foot) out, Ruiz will partner with forward Roberto Mina in the two-leg, aggregate scoring series that concludes Oct. 29 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.
Ruiz and Mina have not played together since Aug. 27 during the final minutes of a 2-2 draw with Chivas USA. Clarke said the duo will cause defenses a lot of problems.
Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo agreed Ruiz is one of the top strikers in MLS, but he is more concerned with shutting down midfielder Ronnie O’Brien, who has carried the FC Dallas midfield after the injury to Richard Mulrooney.
“He’s the engine of that team,” Clavijo said of O’Brien.
FC Dallas has won just three games in its past 17 matches since dismantling the Rapids 3-1 on June 25.
Clavijo said the Rapids are peaking at the right time with eight wins in their past 13 matches.
Mastroeni healthy
Rapids captain Pablo Mastroeni is healthy and training with the team after returning from the U.S. national team camp. Mastroeni has not played for the Rapids since Oct. 1 and has appeared in just 14 matches this season.
With the U.S. berth in the 2006 World Cup secured, Mastroeni can give the Rapids his undivided attention.
“It just narrows the focus on the now and representing this club the best we can and getting a great result here on Saturday at home,” Mastroeni said.
Footnotes
D.C. United’s reserve team won the inaugural Reserve Division title this season, finishing 8-4 (24 points). The Rapids’ reserve team finished fifth with a record of 5-4-3 (18 points). Rookie Sasha Gotsmanov led the Rapids with six goals and veteran Wolde Harris had five. … New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman claimed the Golden Boot award for leading MLS in goals this season with 17, none on penalty kicks. D.C. United’s Jaime Moreno was second with 16 goals while Colorado’s Jeff Cunningham and Los Angeles’ Landon Donovan each scored 12.
