DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Brian Ching of the San Jose Earthquakes in the MLS, gave some pointers to Andrew Musgrave at Kapiolani Park.

Ching came up big
in 2004

Brian Ching capped a memorable Major League Soccer season by being named the San Jose Earthquakes' Most Valuable Player and making four appearances with the United States National Team.

He also was the Earthquakes' scoring leader with 12 goals, three of them game-winners. The 12 goals tied the Kamehameha and Gonzaga graduate with Edward Johnson of the Dallas Burn for first place in the MLS. His 28 points ranked him third in the league.

Then, in early November, the 6-foot-1 striker was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year in voting by coaches, general managers, players and members of the Professional Soccer Reporters Association.

The award honors a player who has overcome injury or tremendous adversity to experience measurable success during the following season. Ching's 2003 season was cut short by a ruptured right Achilles' tendon in an August match.

Even more important for the 26-year-old, who is the only player from Hawaii in the league, was the signing of a four-year contract with the Earthquakes that has increases each year and bonus clauses for making the all-star team and goals scored.

"I'm extremely happy that I'm being rewarded for the past two years," said Ching, whose new contract amounts to a 300 percent pay increase.

Although his return from the injury took longer than expected, Ching did not rush the process. He played a little bit in a preseason match this past spring and finally felt he was ready when the MLS season opened in April.

He had played for the U.S. in one match in 2003. National team coach Bruce Arena called Ching again for a July match against Poland in Chicago.

"I always knew after playing in the Wales game last year and having a good year that I would get a second opportunity with the national team. I got the opportunity against Poland," said Ching.

"I knew if I just played well, because of the way I play and the type of player I am and that there aren't too many players out there in the states that fit the same mold, that I would get that chance."

Ching is a big forward, someone who wins a lot of balls in the air, gets on crosses in the box and battles with the defenders a little more physically than a small, quicker striker would do.

"I felt I played really well (vs. Poland) considering I didn't score. That just set up the opportunity for the Jamaican game," said Ching.

That match last August saw Ching score his first international goal in his third match for the U.S. It came in the 89th minute and sent the U.S. home with a 1-1 tie. That assured the Americans of advancing to the second round of World Cup qualifying.

"I missed an opportunity I normally would have put away about a minute after I got in the game. After that. I was just trying to get another chance because if I did, I would put it away," said Ching. "Fortunately, time didn't run out. It was a huge goal for the U.S. and our qualifying process."

The Americans had crossed the ball into the box and, with a mix-up between two Jamaican defenders, it landed right at Landon Donovan's feet. Ching's San Jose teammate played him the ball.

"I was ready for it. I saw a defender coming to slide, so I just tried to hit it over the defender into the upper corner of the net. I was really, really excited when it went in. To me, right there, that was the highlight of my career to this point," Ching said.

Ching followed up by scoring the first goal in a 2-0 win over El Salvador at Foxboro, Mass., the site of his injury the year before.

On having Donovan as a teammate, Ching said, "We have a great understanding. Having said that, Landon is such a great player it is not really difficult to have a great partnership with him because he is so good. I just focus on playing my role when I play with him and that is to occupy defenders, using my size and strength, to give him more space and time."

Ching will report to the national team training camp in January at Carson, Calif., for a month and half of training in preparation for the second round of World Cup qualifying.

"I'm not on the national team because it is always a work in progress. It's fierce competition because everyone there has the same goal of playing for the national team," said Ching.