Brian Ching

Football player infobox
playername = Brian Ching


fullname = Brian Ching
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1978|5|24
cityofbirth = Hale'iwa, HI
countryofbirth = United States
height = height|ft=6|in=1
currentclub = Houston Dynamo
clubnumber = 25
position = Striker
youthyears =
1996–2000
youthclubs =
Gonzaga University
years = 1998–1999
2001
2001–2002
2003–2006
2006–
clubs = Spokane Shadow
Los Angeles Galaxy
Seattle Sounders
San Jose Earthquakes
Houston Dynamo
caps(goals) = 70 (34)
08 0(1)
31 (19)
56 (25)
53 (29)
nationalyears = 2003–
nationalteam = United States
nationalcaps(goals) = 30 0(8)
pcupdate = 6 April 2008
ntupdate = 25 June 2007

Brian Ching (Chinese: 程拜仁, pinyin: Chéng Bàirén born May 24, 1978 in Haleiwa, Hawaii) is a U.S. soccer striker, who plays for Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer.

Biography

Ching played college soccer at Gonzaga University, where he scored 34 goals and had 23 assists. Between 1998 and 1999, he played for the Spokane Shadow of the USL Premier Development League where he was rookie of the year in 1998. In 2001, Ching was drafted by the Los Angeles Galaxy as the 16th pick in the MLS SuperDraft. That year for the Galaxy, he appeared in 8 games and scored one goal. In 2002, Brian was released by the Galaxy and signed by the Seattle Sounders of the A-League for whom he had played several games with in 2001, on loan from Los Angeles. Playing for the Sounders, he was ranked second in the A-League in scoring and was selected as a member of the A-League All-League team.

In February 2003, Brian was acquired by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2003 MLS Supplemental Draft. When Dwayne DeRosario suffered a devastating knee injury in the 2003 pre-season, Brian was thrust into the starting forward role. Ching played solidly until August 2003 when he ruptured his right Achilles' tendon causing him to miss the rest of the Earthquake's 2003 Championship season. In 2004, he re-gained a starting job and co-led the league (with Eddie Johnson) in goals with 12. Brian was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year and to the league MLS Best XI for his efforts. In four years in MLS, Ching has scored 26 goals and added 12 assists in league play.

Along with the rest of his Earthquakes teammates, Ching moved to Houston for the 2006 season. He scored four goals in Houston's first-ever game 2 April against Colorado, the seventh player in MLS history to score four goals in a single game. At MLS Cup 2006, Ching scored the tying goal in the 114th minute and scored what turned out to the be winning goal in the penalty kick shootout against New England Revolution. He was also named the Cup most valuable player. Ching's impressive September 30, 2006 bicycle kick versus DC United was voted MLS Goal of the year.

Ching earned his first cap with the US national team on May 26, 2003 against Wales. After that, he was used by Bruce Arena regularly. Ching scored the equalizing goal in the 89th minute against Jamaica in a World Cup qualifier in Kingston on August 18, 2004, and followed that performance with another goal in the team's next match. On May 2, 2006, Ching was named to the U.S. men's squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

He scored a goal in a 2-0 US CONCACAF Gold Cup victory over Trinidad and Tobago on June 9, 2007. He drew a penalty in the box of the second half of the Gold Cup Final against Mexico. Landon Donovan converted the penalty, tying the game at one. The USA won 2-1 after Benny Feilhaber's game winner.

Ching was called in to the USA side to face Barbados in the first round of CONCACAF World cup Qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, and he then scored two goals in the US team's largest victory ever, 8-0.

Aside from soccer, Ching is also an avid surfer.

Titles

* Los Angeles Galaxy: US Open Cup - 2001
* San José Earthquakes: MLS Cup - 2003; MLS Supporters' Shield - 2005
* Houston Dynamo: MLS Cup: 2006, 2007

International Goals

Career stats

ee also

* List of current MLS players

External links