It would be fair to say Bryan Ruiz never quite proved himself to be the most clinical of forwards over three years at Fulham.
When he joined up with the Costa Rican national team Ruiz looked every inch the high-quality footballer he at times promised to be. At Craven Cottage it was never quite the same.
It seemed Ruiz’s form had turned around since his move to Sporting in the summer, with the 30-year-old a regular in Jorge Jesus’ league-leading side.
Yet Ruiz may have cost his side two crucial points in the race for the Liga NOS crown as he missed the simplest of sitters in a 0-0 draw away to Vitoria Guimaraes.
As Joao Eduardo fired a cross in from the right the goal was at Ruiz’s mercy. The keeper had committed himself to the cross. He was comfortably onside. He could pick his spot.
He headed over.
With Benfica and Porto both winning in the week’s round of fixtures Sporting’s lead at the top of the table was trimmed to just a point mere days before the former visit the Estadio Jose Alvalade in the Lisbon derby.
It promises to be quite the treat for Fulham fans as Kostas Mitroglu lines up against Ruiz for Benfica in a Felix Magath-era reunion.
